The President of Montenegro, Jakov Milatović, stated that Montenegro has made significant progress in terms of European integration, for which both the government and part of the opposition are responsible. He criticized the government’s work, noting that after receiving the IBAR (Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance), we saw a character of the government that was not genuinely committed to change. He also expressed the opinion that the late Metropolitan Bishop of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Amfilohije, is a significant figure who deserves a monument in Montenegro.

“A significant step was taken in parliament at the end of last year and the beginning of this one in terms of uniting around appointments in the judiciary, which required a two-thirds majority. As a result, Montenegro has taken a long-awaited step, opening the door to the next phase, which is more demanding than the previous one and will require greater responsibility from all decision-makers. That step is closing negotiating chapters,” said the President of Montenegro during a panel at the 2BS Forum in a conversation with Adnan Rondić.

Milatović reminded the audience that in one year, Montenegro had three governments, and that now, for the first time since 2020, it has a political government.

“I firmly believe that Montenegro has become a more democratic society during this process, as evidenced by the elections a few days ago. We are now in a process of democratic development, where elections are a measure of how free citizens are to participate or not, and to vote as they wish,” said Milatović.

Speaking about the elections in Podgorica, Milatović said that the largest political result is the revival of the “third way”. “It is the path of the civic center, and it seems to me that this is the greatest political contribution of these elections,” he added.

“There is no doubt that the elections in the capital are small national elections; a third of the electorate lives in Podgorica. However, this is another important message – it seems to me that there are no topics that further motivate citizens to go out, and I believe this will be an important focus of political action, encouraging citizens to be active participants in the electoral process,” said Milatović.

When asked which path his coalition will take following the elections in Podgorica, he stated that he will be where he has always been.

“From the moment I entered politics, I believe there is a continuity of action, which is action for substantive change. What distinguishes political actors on the Montenegrin scene is the understanding of the symbol of August 30, 2020, and what it meant for Montenegro. It had to be a hope for change. Unfortunately, after receiving the IBAR, we saw a character of the government that was not genuinely committed to change, and we witnessed three lines of the government – the adoption of laws without debate and consultation with the EU, and laws that largely restored political control over key parts of Montenegrin society,” said Milatović, criticizing the law on RTCG (Radio Television of Montenegro), which, as he stated, aimed to place the media house of all citizens under political control.

Speaking about relations with neighbors, he reminded that the highest state officials were declared personae non gratae by a neighboring country that is a member of the EU. He also criticized the government’s attitude towards the Brdo-Brioni Summit and the executive branch’s decision not to support that event.

“Economic populism and decision-making without inclusion are unacceptable,” says Milatović. “Decisions that bypass discussion with the EU, that are not clearly justified, that are made ad hoc, that undermine our economic potential and the future of citizens, while trying to maintain the decline in the political legitimacy of political entities, are not acceptable.”

“That is why it is important for the Podgorica elections to revive the ‘third way,’ and I hope that in the coming period there will be enough wisdom and responsibility to tone things down and clearly direct the country towards what is the key priority: Montenegro as an EU member by 2028,” said Milatović.

In response to Rondić’s question about erecting a monument to the late Metropolitan of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Amfilohije, while recalling the harsh and offensive messages he often directed towards Montenegrins, Milatović stated that Amfilohije is a significant figure who undoubtedly played a special and important role on August 30.

“It is certain that every person is a layered individual, without delving into the matters you mentioned. Through all my political actions, I strive to make Montenegro a home for all of us,” said Milatović.

When asked if erecting a monument is a good way to achieve that, he reiterated that Amfilohije is a significant figure.

“I have no dilemma that he deserves a monument,” stated Milatović, claiming that in Montenegro, the state is separate from the church.

Milatović stated that “it is questionable whether independence would have been achieved in 2006 if Amfilohije had held a different stance regarding independence.”

Speaking about Montenegro’s relations with Serbia, he said that he does not understand politicians for whom Serbia is more important than Montenegro.

“That is why politicians have a problem with me, because I do not change my path; it is clear and direct, and I do not see August 30 as a time for someone else to come and marginalize the other part of our population. The role of substitution rather than substantive change is the problem of our political elite. For Montenegro to be better, parties must be better. I have no other country but Montenegro. I believe that Serbia is a friendly country, an important economic partner, and a country with which we share a past and with which we will have to share a common future. This is in the interest of Montenegro and everyone in the Balkans,” assessed Milatović, calling for the prompt improvement of relations with Croatia.

“We must preserve the things that were good in the past, while the bad practices that existed, such as the influence of criminal structures and the way of governing the state and enterprises, must not become part of the practices of the new political structures in power,” said Milatović, noting that both he and the citizens have observed this.

According to him, Montenegro needs substantive changes.

“The DPS was not removed from power simply because of its name, but because it was a symbol of bad practices. Let us not repeat that within something called the PES or the Democratic Front,” urged the president.

Regarding dual citizenship, Milatović says it is necessary to find common ground between the government and the opposition, so that, as he stated, it can be determined how to accommodate those who rightfully wish to have a formal document of belonging to this homeland, while preventing any form of political engineering.