The Montenegrin government finally, after two failed attempts, on Friday approved a package of restrictive measures against Russia, due to its military aggression against Ukraine, which began on February 24th. For this reason the countries of the European Union, the United States of America and some countries of Asia imposed sanctions on Moscow.
Almost all the ministers in the Government of Montenegro voted for the imposition of sanctions against Russia and this decision was accepted differently by the public. Pro-Serb politicians, of course, condemned such a decision, some supported it, explaining that it is Montenegro’s obligation on its European and Euro-Atlantic path. The decision of the Government of Montenegro was welcomed by the European Parliament Rapporteur for Serbia Vladimir Bilcik, the European Parliament Rapporteur for Montenegro Tonino Picula and the British Ambassador to Montenegro Karen Maddox.
The Government session, in which the package of sanctions against Russia was approved, was chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister and Mandator for the composition of the new Government, Dritan Abazovic, who immediately published this information on his Twitter account.
In addition to Deputy Prime Minister Dritan Abazovic, seven ministers voted in favor, while one minister abstained. Prime Minister Zdravko Krivokapic, who was at the Delphi Economic Forum in Greece, and four ministers did not attend the session.
Agriculture Minister Aleksandar Stijovic, who abstained, said he did not know the effect of sanctions on the Montenegrin economy and did not see how it would help citizens and the economy, noting that Montenegro earned about 130 million euros last year from the Russian market.
Recall that the Government of Zdravko Krivokapic has twice refused to take a decision on sanctions against Russia. On March 1, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) announced that Montenegro had joined the EU sanctions against Russia, and the Montenegrin Government’s Political System Commission, chaired by Abazovic, approved a package of sanctions against Russia, on March 15th. However, the decision of the Government was necessary for the implementation of these decisions.
Sanctions against Russia for the invasion in Ukraine, both individual and economic, include the freezing of property, the closure of airspace for Russian aircraft, the banning of Russian government media, and the freezing of property of certain legal entities and individuals.
Different reactions to sanctions
The pro-Russian and pro-Serbian Democratic Front said they oppose sanctions against Russia and that they will negatively affect the tourist season. “We respect the territorial integrity of Ukraine, we are against sanctions against Russia and as a small state we must stay away from geopolitical conflicts,” said DF official Milan Knezevic.
The sanctions are also unacceptable to the mayor of Budva, Marko Carevic, an official of the New Serbian Democracy, part of the Democratic Front coalition. In a statement for Banja Luka television, he also said that “Boka is a Serbian state, just like Kosovo. Me and all of us as Serbian people were against the referendum (on the renewal of Montenegro’s independence in 2006). We are, especially Boka Kotorska, a Serbian country like Kosovo. It is mainly the Serbian people. We joined Serbia in 1918 and whoever does not come to the Montenegrin coast works against the interests of the Serbian people,” Carevic concluded.
However, the leader of the Democrats and until recently the Speaker of the Parliament of Montenegro, Aleksa Becic, ostensibly civic-oriented but committed to the Serbian Orthodox Church, stressed that the Montenegrin government harmonizes with sanctions and other decisions of international partners on the issue of Russian aggression in Ukraine. “Of course, one can play with the emotions of the citizens and benefit politically, but running the state and performing the most important state functions requires decision-making without calculations and difficult decisions,” said Becic.
European Parliament Rapporteur for Serbia Vladimir Bilchik welcomed Montenegro’s decision to impose sanctions on Russia and expressed hope that all Western Balkan countries that are candidates for EU membership would follow his example.
Tonino Picula, the European Parliament rapporteur for Montenegro, also welcomed the Montenegrin government’s decision to approve a package of sanctions against Russia. “With the previous approximation of foreign policy to the common EU policies, Montenegro reaffirms its predetermined Euro-Atlantic orientation and status as a leader in the enlargement process,” Picula said on Twitter.
British Ambassador Karen Maddox said that with the imposition of sanctions on Russia, Montenegro has shown that Euro-Atlantic values are a priority. Maddox said it was important that these measures, which are a response to Russian aggression, be implemented now rigorously.
The minority government by April 15?
The government of Prime Minister Zdravko Krivokapic, which was elected in December 2020 by the votes of the pro-Russian and pro-Serb Democratic Front, Democrats and the civil movement URA, received a vote of no confidence in early February.
Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic on March 3rd nominated URA leader and Deputy Prime Minister Dritan Abazovic as the mandate of the new minority government, for which negotiations are still ongoing. According to the latest announcements, the new Government of Montenegro will be formed by April 15. /The Geopost/
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