Photo: Tanjug/Zoran Žeštić The President of Montenegro, Jakov Milatović, was welcomed at the Belgrade airport by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ivica Dačić. It is not a rule that the president must meet the president, but it is an indicator of the current level of relations between the two countries, says former diplomat Zoran Milivojević
"Turning over a new leaf in the relations between Serbia and Montenegro" and "we will not stand in your shadow". The first is a message from the President of Montenegro, Jakov Milatović, and the second from the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, which were heard at a joint conference after the first official visit of the new Montenegrin president to Belgrade.
Even this address did not pass without reference to how Milatović was welcomed in Belgrade, i.e. why he was welcomed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivica Dacic, and not by President Vučić himself.
"And who welcomed me in Podgorica?", was Vučić's comment and asked if anyone remembered who else he prepared the welcome dinner, and then the festive lunch the next day.
Career diplomat Zoran Milivojević told the portal "Vremena" that there is no rule in international relations according to which the president of one country must meet the president of another, but that this shows the level of relations between Serbia and Montenegro.
"The President of Montenegro was welcomed by the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs. This corresponds to the current state of relations between two countries that are not at the level of ambassadors. We are in the process of normalizing relations. Therefore, this welcome does not send any special message, but corresponds to the state of relations at the moment," says Milivojević and adds that the welcome in front of the Palace of "Serbia" was still appropriate.
As for the sentence that Vučić uttered, Milivojeć says that there can be talk of reciprocity.
"I don't know who welcomed Vučić in Podgorica. It's all about the current state of the relationship. If they are normalized, everything will be done in a different way in the future," says Milivojević.
Appreciation segment
Vučić stated that there are those in Montenegro who are trying to cause fear of Serbia, and said that Serbia will participate only in those matters in which Montenegro wants to do so.
"We will not stand in your shadow. "We don't think of asking for anything that someone else doesn't want, we talk in a very civilized and normal way that should build trust between us in the future," said Vučić.
A message came from Milatović that he is pleased to be in Belgrade, that Serbia is Montenegro's biggest trade partner, cooperation in the field of tourism is important, but also that there are open problems.
"We do not have diplomatic relations with Serbia at the level of ambassadors, we do not have joint border crossings. A session of the two governments has never been held," Milatović noted.
About Marović and Kosovo
Milatović stated that he received assurances from President Vučić that Serbia will act responsibly regarding the request for the extradition of the former president of the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro Svetozar Marović, who has been legally punished criminally in Montenegro.
Milatović said that everyone who has been criminally punished in Montenegro, including Marović, should serve the sentence.
Vučić stated that Serbia "as a serious and responsible country" will always consider what Milatović says and will seriously provide well-founded answers in the case of Marović.
Answering a Montenegrin television journalist's question about the Marović case, Vučić answered by asking how it is that only eight percent of Serbs are employed in the public administration in Montenegro, even though there are far more Serbs in Montenegro.
Jakov Milatović said that it is important for him to bring the situation in the north of Kosovo and Macedonia under control and to de-escalate relations between Belgrade and Pristina, stressing that this is a priority in Serbia, but also in Montenegro, which is its neighbor.
"We sincerely support the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina and we want that dialogue to end to the benefit of both Belgrade and Pristina." I am not happy about the tensions and I again appeal for de-escalation and I welcome Belgrade's efforts for that and I know that Vučić did a lot to bring about that de-escalation. It takes two to tango," said Milatović when asked if the situation in Kosovo and Metohija is clearer to him now.
He added that the position of the EU and the dialogue that exists within the platform presented by the EU are what Podgorica is currently supporting.
BG/RTS/FoNet
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