PNP calls for Herceg Novi Municipal Assembly to debate withdrawal of recognition of Kosovo

The Secretary of the Executive Board of the People's Trust Movement (PNP) in Herceg Novi, Dragana Savic, has called on the President of the Herceg Novi Municipal Assembly and all councilor groups to ensure that an initiative to revoke the decision recognizing Kosovo is placed on the agenda of the local parliament, following the adoption of such a decision today by councilors in Pljevlja, and earlier in Zeta.

As reported by the Podgorica-based news portal Adria, Savic said that the councilors of the Herceg Novi Municipal Assembly should also have the opportunity to express their views on this issue.

According to the official results of the latest population census, she noted, Serbs make up 48.34 percent of Herceg Novi's population and constitute the largest ethnic community in the municipality.

"For that very reason, we believe this is an issue of particular national and social importance to a large number of our citizens and one that deserves an open debate in the local parliament. The People's Trust Movement believes that the citizens of Herceg Novi have the right to know the position their elected representatives hold on this matter. The public has the right to hear the arguments, follow the debate, and see how each councilor votes on this issue," Savic stated.

She emphasized that if councilors in other municipalities had been given the opportunity to debate this issue and publicly state their political position, there was no reason why the same opportunity should not be afforded to councilors in Herceg Novi.

"We therefore call on the President of the Herceg Novi Municipal Assembly and all councilor groups to ensure that this issue is included on the agenda and that an open debate is held. Herceg Novi has always been a city of free thought and open dialogue," Savic said.

She added that no issue of importance to the citizens should be excluded from public debate or left without an opportunity for legitimately elected representatives to express their views.

"Democracy implies not only the right of citizens to elect their representatives, but also the right of citizens to know how their representatives vote on issues of public and national importance," Savic said, as reported by the Podgorica-based portal Adria.