Podgorica, 4 Mar - Aware of the fact that Milo Đukanović, the old-new Prime Minister of Montenegro has in the last eighteen years of his rule (as amply evidenced by the last eighteen months of the „break“) exploited the highest public and political functions for the purposes of his personal and business interests;

 

Aware that Milo Đukanović, after the terrible post-Yugoslav wars, crimes and plundering in the period when he was openly an ally of Slobodan Milošević, in spite of successfully changing sides in the critical moments of 1997-1998, is still justly suspected of having allowed his cartel to keep the plundered wealth;

 

Aware that Milo Đukanović used the earlier mandate as PM ahead of his “withdrawal” to immobilise or “neutralise” all reform and anti-monopoly laws in order to make space for his overnight business success and enrichment in the face of the conflict of interests;

 

Aware that the above blocking, immobilisation and “neutralisation” of the law was conducted by Milo Đukanović as it were from the shadows, and that as even that did not suffice he returned to become Prime Minister for the fifth time;

 

Aware that there was no force that could prevent this rise of one of the greatest and most dangerous conflicts of interest in Montenegro and in Europe;

 

Aware that the existing relations between political and economic power generates lawlessness and creates obedient subjects in place of free citizens

 

We urge

 

-         All democratic forces in Montenegro to unite their efforts in reigning in and overcoming politics that are based on a sharp conflict between personal and public interests of the rulers;

-         All citizens, to gather up their courage and joint forces to prevent internal rifts in Montenegro and other obstacles to our country’s becoming a democratic European state;

-         Relevant international factors to strengthen their supervision of the new government of Milo Đukanović, to restrict the available space for manoeuvre for the abuse of power; to make sure that the judiciary, prosecution and police are not used to settle the accounts with political dissenters and that the law and reforms are not merely simulated in this country;

-         European Union to focus its efforts and the influence it wields over Montenegrin authorities to speed up the adoption of a new law on the conflict of interests and ensure its scrupulous implementation; to carefully follow and publicly react to the “endemic” corruption and assist internal struggles against it.

 

 

Prof Dr Milan Popović, University of Montenegro
Balša Brković, writer
Ervina Dabižinović, ANIMA
Prof Dr Ilija Vujošević, University of Montenegro
Dragoljub Duško Vuković, journalist
Željko Ivanović, director of the daily „Vijesti“
Jelena Jauković, University of Montenegro
Prof Dr Svetozar Jovićević, University of Montenegro
Esad Kočan, chief editor of the weekly „Monitor“
Dr Filip Kovačević, University of Montenegro
Ljubomirka Ljupka Kovačević, ANIMA
Veseljko Koprivica, journalist of weekly „Monitor“
Milka Tadić Mijović, journalist of weekly „Monitor“
Stevo Muk, Institute Alternativa
Snežana Nikčević, journalist in RTCG
Prof Dr Miodrag Perović, University of Montenegro
Prof Dr Vera Radović, University of Montenegro
Daliborka Uljarević, Centre for Civic Education