It seems that Montenegrin citizens are slowly loosing faith in democratic elections and possibility for changes in their country. After 20 years of having democracy, election winner was always known before the election day. Therefore, Montenegro have never experienced shift of political parties through competitive elections. Until recently, voters in this small country have been famous for quite big turn-out and 70 - 80 % of citizens exercise their voting right on average. But, all that is rapidly changing. Local elections in Montenegrin historical capital - Cetinje have been boycotted by several major opposition parties, so only ruling coalition took part in it, along with two other minor parties who are also coalition partners to the ruling party in couple of other towns. Elections were boycoted by 55 % of voters, along with 10 % of non-valid votes of those who turned out. Several media reported that a lot of citizens were under pressure from the ruling party to go out and vote, so that’s how anlysts explain such a high number of non-valid votes. Alltogether, preliminary results show that 59% of citizens boycotted elections (with non-valid votes). Ruling parties - Democratic Pary of Socialists and Socialist Democratic Party won together almost 90% of those who voted. All serious political analyses show clear signs of one-party system in Montenegro, with several minor parties which in one way or another support the ruling party, and are only used to take part in elections, in order to create image of pluralism. In November 2009, all opposition parties have also boycotted local elections in town of Kotor, where almost 60% of voters didn’t turn out. Also, another 6,2% votes were not valid, while 4,94% of voters voted by mail. Both facts are showing big irregularity, especially on such a small turnout. Opposition claims that those are people who were litteraly „forced“ and „dragged“ to vote, since ruling regime uses already established measures of threats and pressures.

“Ruling regime cannot be beaten on the elections because they use all institutions of the state, complete public finances and all Government programs, in order to make their victory smooth”, said Nebojsa Medojevic, leader of Movement for Changes.

He stated earlier that “the key political problem in Montenegro is legally and constitutionally unsustainable position of Montenegrin Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic, who is officially accused for criminal charges at Italian courts, for distribution of cigarettes and money laundering. (read here his controversial political biography).

Consequence of this is reduce of Government capacities, corruption on highest levels, insufficient police capacities, politically controlled/dependent judicial branch, attacks on media and journalists, etc”.

Mr. Djukanovic has been a political leader in Montenegro for nearly 20 years, and passed a long raod since then (already served four terms as Prime Minister and one term as President of Montenegro. Now - 2009, he again became Prime Minister for the fifth time). He started as one of the leaders of the Communist Party, then a coalition partner of Slobodan Milosevic in Serbia, and later switched from pro-Yugoslav option into leading independence movement of Montenegro. (see a video with english subtitles about his role in Balkan wars).

Nebojsa Medojevic, one of the opposition leaders announced to visit United States and speak with several important officials about neccessary political changes in Montenegro. He also emphasized that European Union and U.S.A. will have to stop any support to the ruling regime, and help montenegrin opposition to end the current system and organize first free and democratic elections in the country.  

Originally, the idea of boycott was promoted by the prominent opposition politician Slavko Perovic, on his influental blog. Mr Perovic is leader of Liberal Alliance of Montenegro (first opposition party in the country), which has „frozen“ its political activities in March 2005, explaining that Montenegro lacks basic democratic principles which would ensure normal and independent functioning of an opposition party. Last election of March 2009, proved that opposition indeed doesn’t have even smallest opportunity to make any progress as ruling party won more than absolute majority again (in some towns more than 65%). Independent analysts believe that changes are impossible since ruling party holds the monopoly in all mechanisms of the State, which are remained habits from communist times. (read here the article “Why victory is impossible for the opposition“)

A lot of civil society leaders and independent analysts hope that European Union will seriously analyze the situation in Montenegro and help the country to make neccesary political changes.

Governments of Montenegro and Italy will launch an investment project worth EUR 720mn - an underwater electric transmission line. Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic visited Rome (February 6th 2010) and discussed with his Italian colleague Silvio Berlusconi about wide array of issues.

Italian delegation headed by prime minister Berlusconi emphasized that Italy now becomes the no 1. economic partner to Montenegro. Before this project, Italy was on the 14th position on the list of foreign investments in Montenegro. Both prime ministers stated that this is just the begining of cooperation between Italy and Montenegro, as several more projects in field of energy were planned in the future. Economic cooperation was also in the focus of talks between the economy ministers of two countries, Branko Vujovic and Claudio Scajola, who signed an agreement on the construction of an underwater power cable connection. Montenegrin delegation also included Foreign Minister Milan Rocen.

PM Berlusconi said that Italy will continue to support Montenegrin efforts to join European Union and NATO. He also pointed out that “PM Djukanovic is one of the best politicians in the Balkans region”.

However, local medias and opposition leaders in Montenegro had a lot of negative comments about this meeting, since it is already third time that two prime ministers are meeting in a year, and both of them face similar issues with accusations for corruption and ties with organized crime. Montenegrin prime minister Milo Djukanovic is also under investigation by Italian authorities for what is believed to be one of the largest tobacco-smuggling operations in Europe, which caused an estimated $700 million annually in losses to governments and legitimate merchants during the 1990’s. Mr Djuaknovic served four terms as Prime Minister of little Montenegro, and is also the long-term President of Democratic Party of Socialists (created from Communist Party) governing Montenegro ever since the introduction of multiparty politics. He was political ally of Slobodan Milosevic in the 1990’s, supporting war in ex-Yugoslavia, but later turned towards pro-western ideals and brought independence to Montenegro. (read more about his controversial biography)

Notizie in Italiano:
http://www.governo.it/Notizie/Palazzo%20Chigi/dettaglio.asp?d=55146

Video in Montenegrin language:

February 3, 2010. - Montenegrin officials rejected an estimate by the International Monetary Fund that its economy experienced the deepest recession in the Balkans and contracted by 7 percent.

Deputy Prime Minister Vujica Lazovic told to journalists that  ”all data show that the fall (of gross domestic product) was not so much.” Official estimation by the government shows 4.3 percent contraction in 2009.

Mr Lazovic also said that he doesn’t know “if they want to put us in an inferior position and announce that we are forced to launch an arrangement with the IMF or it is a result of forecasts based on research in the region.”

IMF officials announced that Montenegrin economy had suffered a serious blow in 2009, with no sign of a strong recovery to come.

IMF mission head Gerwin Bell epmhasized that his officials “estimate GDP to have declined by 7 %, which is somewhat steeper than elsewhere in the region.” The IMF also advised Montenegro to urgently adjust its economic policy. These calls for changes are not new, because many analysts have warned that Montenegro needs to restructure its economy, which has so far relied heavily on tourism and property market speculation.

Chief of Montenegrin Mission to the EU - Mrs Slavica Milacic stated that “Montenegro could obtain a status of ”candidate country” for membership in the European Union, until the end of 2010.”  In her interview to daily newspapre ”Vijesti” (January 31st 2010), she expressed satisfaction with the progress made by Montenegro in the past three years and stated - “We had great success. We had a long way to go, from the initial negotiations and first agreements between EU and Montenegro, until arriving to the phase of preparations for the status of candidate country. Now, even though I am carefull with any projections of dates, I believe we could get a reccomendation for opening membership talks by the end of this year”.

Last EC progress report on Montenegro shows that the country’s relations with the EU have been positive and that Montenegro continued to make progress in fulfilling political criteria. However, the report emphasized that country continues to suffer from a lack of administrative capacity. Also, the European Commission report (presented on October 14th 2009) points out that great issue still remains fight against organized crime and corruption. This was the 4th progress report on Montenegro.

EC promised earlier to inform the opinion on Montenegrin candidacy for full membership in the EU, the so called avis, next autumn.

Many countries in Europe have dark and bright moments in history. Dark periods are marked by either tyranny, totalitarism or wars, while bright periods usually refer to revolutions, ideas of progress and prosperity, anti-war movements and prominent people who organized it. In recent European history, almost all Eastern countries experienced shifts of political systems and ruling regimes. In many cases, solidarity of the free citizens and different freedom movements took part in those events. 

In the times when the whole Balkans region became a war zone, Montenegro was lucky enough to have its own freedom movement - alliance of people of all ethnic backgrounds and religions, which was unique at that time in the war-affected ex-Yugoslavia ! Liberal Alliance of Montenegro was founded on January 26th 1990, and was the first opposition party in Montenegro. It promoted anti-war politics, progressive and independent Montenegro, and joining United Europe. Because of those European values, the ruling regime of Montenegro (the same ruling party who runs the country now) have called members of Liberal Alliance as “traitors” and “servants of the west”. During those years, hundreds of people were threatened, scared off and put under pressure, if being noticed as supporters of this movement. Despite everything, the movement was constantly growing, and spreaded hope, peace and love among so many people who were surrounded by the atmosphere of hate, fear and constant pressure of the government. Nowadays, after 20 years, the government of Montenegro does exactly the same things that Liberal Alliance was promoting in 1990’s.  Tens of thousands of Montenegrin citizens feel that they literraly lost twenty years, while the EU and the rest of international community still tends to support the undemocratic system in Montenegro.

Unfortunately, Montenegro is still perhaps the only European country that never experienced the real essence of “democratic system” - the shift of power between the ruling regime and the opposition. Being such a small state (only 650.000 citizens) makes the State system very special, and easy for the ruling party to control and influence the citizens, making sure that all elections are smoothly won by the ruling regime. In order to draw international attention towards small Montenegro, Liberal Alliance of Montenegro has „frozen“ its political activities in March 2005, explaining that Montenegro lacks basic democratic principles which would ensure normal and independent functioning of an opposition party. Last election of March 2009, proved that opposition indeed doesn’t have even smallest opportunity to make any progress as ruling party won more than absolute majority again (in some towns more than 65%). Independent analysts believe that changes are impossible since ruling party holds the monopoly in all mechanisms of the State, which are remained habits from communist times. (read here the article “Why victory is impossible for the opposition“)

However, members of the movement stayed active on the internet and continued to promote liberal and progressive ideas, in order to urge citizens that changes are neccessary for Montenegro. In that matter, several blogs and online initiatives were created, which soon became an ”oasis” for the people who want independent news and analyses. The movement has shown its real strength when the idea of boycott was promoted by the prominent opposition politician Slavko Perovic, on his blog. Mr Perovic is leader of Liberal Alliance of Montenegro and former vice president of Liberal International. His blog had more than 350.000 visits over the last 2 years. He appealed to citizens and opposition leaders that the only way out of political agony is to completely end any form of collaboration with the current regime, and to start with hard process of reconciliation and necessary internal changes. Firstly the idea was widely spread among citizens, and soon political leaderships of all major opposition parties accepted it. For those unfamiliar with political situation in Montenegro, it may seem quite amazing to hear this, since most of news about the tiny Balkan state refers to it as a “prosperous country which is fastly progressing towards EU”. (Read here the article “Credibility of Montenegrin regime questioned by many”)

Maybe the best way to remember how brave and progressive were the ideas of Liberal Alliance, is to watch a short YouTube clip about the 1990’s, with statements from Slavko Perovic (Liberal Alliance) and current Prime Minister of Montenegro - Milo Djukanovic (he was PM in the 1990’s too, read here more about his controversial biography)

The video clip is available here:

WASHINGTON - During his three-day visit, Montenegrin PM Milo Djukanovic will meet U.S. Vice-President Joseph Biden and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

It is believed that one of the main themes to discuss will be Montenegro’s bid to join NATO, and U.S. support in that matter. However, medias pointed out that vast majority of Montenegrin citizens is against the government plans to join the NATO, so it remains unclear on whose behalf is Montenegrin delegation leading the talks in Washington D.C. 

Montenegrin Ambassador in Washington Miodrag Vlahovic said ”The program of the visit is very intensive and all our interlocutors are interested in meeting Montenegrin delegation and supporting our effort towards Euro-Atlantic institutions.” Besides the prime minister, the delegation consists of Foreign Minister Milan Rocen and Minister of Finance Igor Luksic.

Montenegrin delegation will also meet with heads of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank, Dominique Strauss-Kahn and Robert Zoellick. Prime Minister Djukanovic will visit Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, and give a lecture entitled “Montenegro’s path to Euro-Atlantic structures” at Johns Hopkins University.

PM Djukanovic seeks blessing for his successor after he ruled the country for 20 years?

German Radio Deutsche Welle reported that “according to Podgorica’s estimates the visit will determine the future political scene in Montenegro”. During his trip stateside, “Djukanovic is to receive approval for his successor at the position of prime minister”.

The radio emphasized that Djukanovic has been preparing for this visit for a long time through his lobbyists, and that he succeeded in being received at a high level. The report goes on to say that “before his trip to Washington, Djukanovic fulfilled the condition set out by the U.S. administration to establishment diplomatic relations with Kosovo”.

(From Serbian B92 English news service)
High official of the Montenegrin opposition party Movement for Changes Koca Pavlovic stated for Deutsche Welle that the six-time Montenegrin prime minister understood the message sent by the West: he must withdraw so that Montenegro would move on, as was the case with Ivo Sanader in Croatia.

“Aware that he must back down, Djukanovic is trying to arrange a departure by the model he used in the fall of 2006 and that is why he took a projected successor Igor Luksic with him,” Pavlovic said, but “expressed doubt that Washington would agree to another farcical exit of Djukanovic like three years ago”.

Continuous accusations of Montenegrin Prime Minister’s ties with mafia: Djukanovic statements wanted in 4 murder probes

Montenegro’s Supreme Prosecution has submitted a request to the Podgorica Higher Court to question Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic and Serbian controversial businessman Stanko Subotic aka Cane, who is already on the Interpol wanted list.

Montenegrin PM Djukanovic stated many times that Mr Subotic is his friend, and that he has nothing to hide in that matter. He also denied all the links with mafia and criminal charges that are coming from many sides in the last few years.

Montenegrin daily newspaper “Dan” wrote that the pair, previously mentioned in connection to cigarette smuggling probes, should give their statements in investigations of four murders. Chief State Prosecutor Ranka Carapic has filed the request based on the statement of Montenegrin businessman and former Chief of Montenegrin Trade Mission in Washington - Ratko Knezevic, about the involvement of the Montenegrin prime minister and Mr Subotic in a total of nine murders.

The final decision will be made by Supreme Court of Montenegro, but many analysts consider this whole process a political theatre, since Montenegrin judiciary system is considered to be under complete control of Mr Djukanovic and his ruling Democratic Party of Socialists. They are in power of this small Adriatic country for last 20 years, after previously transforming themselves from the Communist Party and changing the political system into a facade democracy.

To learn more about problems of democracy in Montenegro, click here.

To read more about controversial role of Montenegrin Prime Minister Djukanovic, click here.

…

On January 16th, Montenegro announced that it has established diplomatic relations with Kosovo.

The government statement points out: “the ties were established through the exchange letters of the Foreign Ministers of the two countries.”

However, the countries willl still not exchange ambassadors. Montenegro demands recognition of Montenegrin minority on Kosovo. President of Montenegro, Filip Vujanovic, said that Montenegrins need to get an official status in Kosovo.

Montenegro officially recognized Kosovo’s independence in October 2008. Kosovo gained „independence“ from Serbia in February 2008.

After declaring the launch of diplomatic ties with Kosovo, Serbia has immediately withdrawn its Ambassador in Montenegro, for consultations in Belgrade.

Officials from Foreign Ministry of Serbia confirmed that Serbia has also dispatched a demarche to Montenegro over its selection to found smooth relations with the temporary self-government institutions in Kosovo.

Serbian press: Montenegrin knife in Serbia’s back

Bulgarian FOCUS Information Agency reported that Montenegro’s decision to establish diplomatic relations with Kosovo became one of the major topics in the Serbian press on Saturday.
On Friday Serbia gave Montenegro a demarche over Podgorica’s decision to establish diplomatic ties with Kosovo, Glas Javnosti daily writes.
“The establishment of diplomatic relations between the government of Montenegro and Pristina breaks the regional stability and impedes the development of the good neighborly relations, which is a priority of the Serbian government,” the foreign ministry says.
The newspaper comments that Montenegro’s decision is “a brotherly knife in the back.”
Blic daily writes that Belgrade has recalled its ambassador in Montenegro Zoran Lutovac. Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic said he will hold consultations with Lutovac in the next days to discuss the recent situation and steps Serbia will take against Montenegro’s decision. The Ministry of Defense announced the Montenegrin defense minister’s visit to Belgrade had been postponed. It was to take place on January 18.
Vecernje Novosti pays attention to Montenegro’s decision too. Podgorica turned a deaf ear to Serbia’s call to wait for the ruling of the International Court of Justice in The Hague concerning the legitimacy of Kosovo’s declaration of independence, the newspaper writes. The daily cites the leader of the Montenegro’s New Serb Democracy Andrija Mandic as saying that the decision is based on the private interests of Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic and his close associates. Mandic explained that this decision is revenge of the Montenegrin organized crime on Serbia - which started fighting against the criminal groups.

http://www.focus-fen.net/index.php?id=n206908

By reading excerpts of this article from 1998, it is possible to make interesting conclusions about current situation in Montenegro, the role of organized crime and corruption, and absence of real democratic principles. 

The New York Times:

Full article available here:
http://www.nytimes.com/1998/11/02/world/the-next-trouble-spot-in-the-balkans-montenegro.html

November 2, 1998

The Next Trouble Spot in the Balkans: Montenegro
By MIKE O’CONNOR

Budva, Montenegro— As the white launch cut around the breakwater and made for the deep waters of the Adriatic Sea, the wind tangled a Yugoslav flag flying from the rigging. Krsta Niklacevic, who said he was on his way to help his elderly father bring in fish for their restaurant, leapt to clear the tangle and set the flag flying proudly again.

“As a Serb, I love Yugoslavia,” he said. “But I am the biggest Montenegrin patriot I know, and Montenegro is through with being dominated by an evil government.”

The statement captured the complexity and danger of the newest flash point in the Balkans, Montenegro. Here, the Yugoslav President, Slobodan Milosevic, is being challenged by people who are familiar with his cunning and for the most part have no ethnic or religious quarrel to pick with Serbia, by far the larger of the two republics that make up Yugoslavia.

Defying Mr. Milosevic, many Montenegrins, including government officials, say they hope to create an open and democratic society as an example of how all Yugoslavs should be able to live.

But to achieve that, they are falling back on a tradition of smuggling. Officials who support Montenegro’s President, Milo Djukanovic — a former ally of Mr. Milosevic who turned against him and won election in this small republic of 630,000 people last fall — argue that this is the only way to subsidize a government cut off financially by Belgrade. (read here his controversial political biography).

Senior officials say about a third of the government’s budget comes from fees charged to smugglers who operate from here.

The smuggling poses a problem for Western countries that praise Montenegrins for challenging Mr. Milosevic. “We don’t have much information on that,” one Western diplomat said when asked about smuggling, and then quickly changed the subject.

At the helm of his boat, with the centuries-old walled port of Budva slipping out of view, Mr. Niklacevic said, “Why do I oppose Milosevic? Our tourist season used to be six or seven months long, now nothing.”

“That is his fault,” he said, referring to the international contempt and isolation that Mr. Milosevic’s policies have reaped. “Do I need another reason?”

He looked toward the horizon. One hundred twenty miles beyond lies Italy, the destination of the speedboats that smuggle cigarettes from warehouses in Montenegro to the European market.

“Milosevic sent the navy out there to stop the boats,” Mr. Niklacevic said with a broad grin, “but the smugglers are too clever. The Italian police can’t stop them either.”

Once a proud kingdom, though smaller than many American counties, Montenegro runs down rough mountains to the Adriatic. Its people have their own history, and many want to reverse the decision made in 1918 to join Yugoslavia.

If that happens, it will be the end of what is left of the Yugoslav Federation. Since Mr. Milosevic came to dominate Serbia in 1987, it has lost Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Macedonia as federal partners. Now Yugoslavia could lose Montenegro, and even the province of Kosovo, the cradle of Serbia’s history.

“We in Montenegro no longer want to live in an autocratic society,” President Djukanovic said in an interview. “Milosevic wants absolute and uncontrolled power.”

Mr. Djukanovic, 36, and other Montenegrins say they would like to remain part of Yugoslavia, but not if Mr. Milosevic is in charge. (see a short video about his role in Yugosla war - Montenegrins bombing Dubrovnik)

After Mr. Djukanovic’s narrow election victory over a Milosevic ally last year, Montenegro began to ignore federal laws and became independent in practice. “The only influence the federation has is the army and the currency,” Mr. Djukanovic said, “and many army officers are very helpful to us.”

The other republics that left Yugoslavia were places where non-Serbs were a majority. But Montenegro is mostly populated by people who share Serbian traditions. Indeed, Mr. Milosevic himself hails from a Montenegrin family, although he was born and reared in Serbia.

Not all Montenegrins back a fight with Mr. Milosevic. Some think their republic is too small to survive alone. Many consider themselves Serbs first and Montenegrins second and are inclined to keep the current union with Serbia. Many do not want to abandon the idea that Yugoslavia, though troubled, can be saved.

But even those Montenegrins who doubt that conflict with Mr. Milosevic is wise say they are paying the price for his mistakes.

About 12 percent of the people in Montenegro are refugees from the wars that accompanied Yugoslavia’s breakup, most recently from the conflict in Kosovo. In addition, between retirees, the unemployed, those working for antiquated state-owned companies and those working directly for the government, more than half of the people in Montenegro depend on the virtually bankrupt government for their livelihood.

While in Serbia the government is clamping down on independent media and foreign broadcasts, the Montenegrin government’s own stations broadcast reports by the Voice of America and the BBC.

“It’s 100 percent better than in Serbia”, said Dusan Masic, a field supervisor for the Association of Independent Electronic Media, an organization promoting press freedom in Yugoslavia. “But you won’t find many stories criticizing Djukanovic. You won’t find any stories about crime or corruption.”

The reluctance to report on crime stems in part from the republic’s unorthodox source of revenue: smuggling.

“It’s cigarettes for the most part,” said a senior official, speaking on condition of anonymity. “Private companies ship the goods here, to government warehouses on the coast. Then the shippers’ boats get the goods to Italy.”

While still a Milosevic ally, President Djukanovic oversaw much of the smuggling that kept Yugoslavia going when it was under international sanctions from 1992 to 1995, foreign diplomats say. But he rejected the idea that his government was knowingly aiding smugglers today.

“What happens is that merchandise comes into Montenegro and continues on to other destinations,” he said. “We charge a tax for that. You could consider it a normal tax on commercial transactions.”

Montenegrin Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic reflected on country’s progress so far, and said that Montenegro is on the right path towards achieving its goals which were ordered since declaring independence in 2006.

PM Milo Djukanovic said that he believes Montenegro will overcome the first obstacle towards the accession to NATO by the end of the year.  “In my opinion my optimism is not unreal,” he told journalists and added that Montenegro should join the pre-accession program Action Plan for membership by the end of December. The government announced that NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen promised after the meeting with foreign minister Milan Rocen and defense minister Boro Vucinic that the Alliance would keep to its policy of “open doors” for new candidates.

However, public opinion in Montenegro is overwhelmingly against NATO membership. It is estimated that approximately 60% of citizens is disagreed with Montenegro’s road towards NATO, but the government continues with the preparations as well as media campaign in favour of NATO.

Mor info about this subject:

Geopolitical Crossroads: Pentagon and NATO Complete Their Conquest of The Balkans

http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=16311

(AFP) Montenegro optimistic for NATO membership: PM

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hlWo6DgSuu-2g30ZD-ZM-4sdV1aA

Montenegrin Miners spent New Year’s night in the pits and continued protesting.

Several dozen miners of a bauxite mine nearby Niksic, in Montenegro, hit spent terminal period in digit of the pits. They are complaining over quaternary complimentary wages. They believe that government is not doing enough to solve their situation. Several miners have already been taken to hospital, while some came back to the pits again, after leaving hospital.

Montenegro: Officials deny Muslim deportations

Former security officials on trial for allegedly deporting scores of Muslims from Montenegro to Bosnia in the early 1990s have denied all the charges against them. The officials said they were acting in line with policies of the government in Podgorica, then and now headed by prime minister Milo Djukanovic.

The Montenegrin state prosecutor told the court on Thursday that local police had rounded up dozens of refugees who had fled war-torn Bosnia in the spring of 1992 and handed them over to Bosnian Serb forces who later executed many of them.

In opening remarks at the trial in Podgorica, prosecutor Lidija Vukcevic said nine former police and state security officials violated international law, and illegally detained and deported 79 Bosnian Muslim and Serb refugees.

In 1992 Montenegro and its former federal partner Serbia, then led by late Serbian strongman Slobodan Milosevic, formed the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia after the secession of Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Macedonia. Current Montenegrin Prime Minister, Milo Djukanovic was then a partner of Slobodan Milosevic and actively participated in the war politics of Serbian regime. He later opposed Milosevic’s policies, supported by the USA & EU and led Montenegro toward independence in 2006. (read here the controversial biography of Milo Djukanovic)

More about this story:

Montenegro tries nine for sending refugees to death

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSGEE5AP1DC

Montenegro submitted answers on EC questionnaire on December 9th 2009. Montenegrin Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic visited Brussels and gave the answers to the European Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn. Many other govrnment officials participated in the ceremony, including Minister of Finances Igor Luksic, Minister of Foreign Affairs Milan Rocen, Minister of European Integration Gordana Djurovic, as well as Chief of Montenegrin Mission to the EU, Slavica Milacic.

Many independent analysts, as well as leaders of some prominent NGO’s in Montenegro, claim that answers to the EC questionnaire have been embelished and „beautified“, in order to look better. They accused government of using statistics which has little to do with reality and that facts about many issues are much worse that the description in the answers.

The questionnaire was received on July 22 in Podgorica, and includes detailed questions regarding reforms being made in Montenegro on its road towards EU integration.

NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs invited Montenegro to join Membership Action Plan 

NATO Alliance decided to grant Montenegro’s request to join the Membership Action Plan, which is NATO’s program of assistance and practical support created for the individual needs of the aspiring members of the Alliance. The Allies also stated that Bosnia and Herzegovina would join the Membership Action Plan (MAP) as soon as they achieve progress in reform.

NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen had good words for Montenegro: “I congratulate Montenegro on their success. It’s the result of hard work. And with a sustained effort at further reform, today’s invitation to join the MAP will be a stepping stone to the ultimate goal: full membership in the Atlantic Alliance”.

Another interesting article about this topic: NATO Puts Montenegro on Membership Path, Delays Bosnia
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601085&sid=aMGcZsd_YEHE