Djakovic: Montenegro’s MFA stance raised many questions, could damage relations with Serbia

Montenegrin commentator and publicist Perica Djakovic stated that the position of Foreign Minister Enver Ibrahimovic — advocating for Kosovo’s membership in the Council of Europe as a foreign policy priority — could damage relations with Serbia and has already sparked considerable confusion, both in the public and within Montenegro’s government.

“That statement caused a lot of confusion because it came ‘like a bolt from the blue.’ No one understands where Ibrahimovic’s statement came from if he did not consult with government representatives and if it does not reflect the government’s position. No one from the government has come forward to say he was authorized to make such a statement,” Djakovic told Kosovo Online.

He noted that Ibrahimovic’s claim surprised and stirred comments within the Montenegrin government and ruling coalition.

“(Filip) Ivanovic, Deputy Prime Minister for Foreign Affairs, said that Ibrahimovic raised the issue unnecessarily and questioned who he consulted with. Even Prime Minister Milojko Spajic was surprised by the statement. But then comes the question of whether he was as surprised by this as he was when Ibrahimovic appointed (Ranko) Krivokapic — the former SDP leader — as his advisor,” Djakovic said.

He added that the most direct response came from Parliament Speaker Andrija Mandic, who stated that Ibrahimovic’s statement breached the coalition agreement of the parliamentary majority.

“The URA party responded by saying this speaks more to the internal divisions within the Montenegrin government than it does to any official foreign policy position. In any case, this will certainly be a topic of extended debate,” the commentator believes.

When asked why the Montenegrin MFA felt the need to emphasize support for Kosovo’s Council of Europe membership as a priority, Djakovic said no one will give a clear answer.

“I think this mostly reflects Ibrahimovic’s personal stance, along with those of some Albanian parties who have their own firm views on Kosovo. I’m certain that both Spajic and the government would prefer to avoid such direct and concrete positions. Spajic doesn’t want to play ‘hot and cold’ at this moment, but Ibrahimovic rushed out with that stance. I think the whole issue also ties into his appointment of Krivokapic as his advisor — supposedly no one in government knew, but I suspect that at least those who needed to know were informed, as he had been on the government payroll for several months,” Djakovic said.

He warned that this statement could escalate tensions in the region, especially between Podgorica and Belgrade.

“This could indeed strain intergovernmental relations. Above all, it affects relations between Serbia and Montenegro, which had just started to improve. However, we’ve already seen sharp criticism from Belgrade in response to Ibrahimovic’s statement. Still, I believe there will be efforts to smooth things over, as there is nothing more vital to Montenegro than Serbia — not just in tourism, but in a brotherly sense. Serbia has no more important people to Montenegro than its own. But you have to understand — the Montenegrin government is so heterogeneous, there are so many ministers, that government sessions are often held over Zoom, and there’s little physical attendance. The Prime Minister himself hasn’t attended parliament for two months to answer questions,” Djakovic explained.

He emphasized that the political situation in Montenegro is becoming increasingly complex, and he expects this to continue until the end of August, when the summer session of parliament concludes.

“The Montenegrin government is so fragmented that few adhere to the coalition agreement they signed. And as you’ve seen, Ibrahimovic acts by using his ministry to secure posts for his supporters and, in a way, privatize it,” Djakovic concluded.