Knezevic: DNP will launch initiative to withdraw Montenegro’s recognition of Kosovo

The leader and MP of Montenegro’s Democratic People’s Party (DNP), Milan Knezevic, stated that his party will launch an initiative to withdraw Montenegro’s decision to recognize Kosovo.

Knezevic told Euronews Serbia that on May 10 he will organize a large gathering at which he will seek support from party bodies and activists for this initiative.

He said that at a session of the Presidency of the Democratic People’s Party he received full support to begin activities and a campaign for the withdrawal of the decision recognizing Kosovo, together with vice presidents, parliamentary and municipal caucuses.

“I expect coalition partners to support this initiative. I remind you that the beginning of this initiative was in the Municipal Assembly of Zeta, where we exercise power together with our coalition partners from NSDP and the Movement for Changes. At that time, a majority had already been formed, but after entering the Government and agreeing, through the coalition agreement, not to emphasize issues that could divide society, we agreed to create institutional preconditions through dialogue for solutions related to the flag and citizenship, as well as for the Serbian language to become official, but also to open the question of the recognition of the so-called state of Kosovo, since former Prime Minister Dusko Markovic himself stated that more than 85 percent of citizens were against recognizing the so-called state of Kosovo,” Knezevic said.

He added that the first initiative will be launched in the Municipal Assembly of Zeta, noting that a meeting of the councilors’ caucus in Zeta was held last night and that he believes they will receive support from coalition partners from NSDP.

“After that, we will proceed with all local governments and assemblies where we participate in power, in order to ultimately conclude with a resolution in the Parliament of Montenegro that would oblige the Government to withdraw the decision adopted in 2008. We consider this a consistent, principled policy that has nothing to do with pre-election activities, since elections are in 2027. If we had wanted to manipulate, we could have done so in May next year. After our initiative regarding state symbols and for the tricolor to become the national flag was rejected from the agenda, we realized that Prime Minister Milojko Spajic does not want an agreement, and since members of his party claim that he is a greater Serb than all of us, I expect that the Europe Now Movement will also support this initiative,” Knezevic said.

He said that discussions on this issue had been held earlier and added that Mandic was ready to provide support, as well as that NSDP councilors in Zeta had previously expressed readiness to vote for the initiative.

“I do not expect surprises when it comes to NSDP and I believe that we will already have the necessary signatures today to hold a session. According to information I received from the mayor of the municipality, Mihailo Asanovic, the wish of the DNP councilors’ caucus in Zeta is for this to be held at the session on May 12, on the Day of Saint Basil of Ostrog, so that we can complete this declaration with that symbolic and spiritual dimension, and afterward I expect the same to happen in other local governments where we are in power,” Knezevic said.