The leader of the URA Civil Movement Dritan Abazović said that the European Union Summit in Tivat is a great recognition for our country and that the Western Balkans region needs cooperation and partnership, not a return to the Balkan channel from which we will see each other as enemies.
“The European Union summit is propagating the idea of a European future for Montenegro and the region. That does not work with blocking borders, sending people with dubious biographies, media skirmishes and creating the image that something extraordinary is happening, that incidents or retaliation are being prepared. The region needs to choose its own path. Either we will go along the path of reconciliation, cooperation and a European perspective, or we will return to some Balkan channel and simply see everyone else as enemies,” said Abazović in the author’s podcast.
He said that sending fans and criminals from Serbia to this type of event is unprecedented, and reciprocity due to their return, that is, retaliation against the citizens of Montenegro, is unacceptable and the worst thing that has happened.
He also criticized the latest humiliation of pensioners, whose benefits were increased by five instead of 40 euros, as proposed by the URA.
“The summit represents an increase in credibility and international reputation that Montenegro needs to preserve and build on. Montenegro has shown that it is a partner to the European Union,” said Abazović.
The ugly side of the events in Tivat, he assessed, was the fact that a group of almost 90 citizens of the Republic of Serbia, with very dubious biographies, fans or, as he said, supporters of the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, tried to come to the Summit.
“I’ve never seen a more stupid move than that. It’s the first time in my life that I’ve heard of someone going with supporters to a summit. It’s not disputed that protests are organized all over the world, where summits are held. But I’ve never heard of summit participants bringing people with them to support them, make a problem or do something else,” he said.
He assessed that the reaction of the police was justified because it was a high-risk group.
“Nevertheless, that was not the worst thing that happened. The worst thing was that retaliation began against the citizens of Montenegro, who are neither guilty nor obligated, nor did they go to political events or the Summit, but due to circumstances they wanted to travel to the Republic of Serbia for business, private, health or other reasons. They were detained at the border, additional checks were carried out, and several people, including my colleague Blažo Radjenović, did not manage to cross the border, but were returned without any “I think a very ugly and unnecessary message was sent,” he said.
Abazović repeated that the region needs reconciliation, cooperation and partnership.
He told the citizens of Serbia that they are welcome in Montenegro, that Montenegro is sending a message of friendship and that no politics should hinder us in achieving our main goal, which is to unite the peoples who live in these areas.
“Let’s turn to the future, let’s turn to cooperation.”
When asked about the relations between Podgorica and Belgrade, he said that they are very bad, and that the alleged cordial meeting between the president and the prime minister in Tivat was fake.
“Good political management is needed that will reduce tensions and enable people from these areas to take advantage of the opportunity that has suddenly appeared so that our future, our common future, will be much more beautiful than the tragic nineties.”
Speaking about the increase in pensions in Montenegro, Abazović believes that the state once again bowed down in front of 120,000 pensioners, when pensions were increased by five euros instead of 40 euros, as proposed by the URA, through an extraordinary adjustment.
“Dear pensioners, 120,000 of you should know that there is only one address for this situation, and that is the Government of Montenegro. Don’t forget that even in 2027, when the elections come. Talk to your children, grandchildren and everyone who participates in political life in any way. The people who humiliated you are sitting in the Government today,” he said.
Abazović reminded that the ruling majority rejected several times the proposal to put a 40 euro increase in pensions on the agenda.
“Let’s not treat ourselves like that. Each of us has a pensioner at home or in the neighborhood. Let’s not treat the oldest citizens in an unfair way. An increase of five euros is shameful,” believes the URE leader.
He announced that the party will continue to support this population.
On the occasion of June 5, World Environment Day, he praised the civil activists who have been dedicatedly working for the preservation of nature for years, Zenepa Lika, Darko Saveljić, Aleksandar Dragićević, Vuk Vujisić and many others. He also reminded that URA is a member of the Greens of Europe.
Our greatest comparative advantage is that we are defined by the Constitution as an ecological state. Our behavior is not entirely ecological and there are many things that need to be changed in the future, but it is also true that we are one of the few countries where you can drink water from certain rivers in the north of the country without any problems,” the URE leader concluded.
Asked when the salary increase will occur, given the high prices, he said that inflation is too high and that the “Limited Price” campaign was just a scam.
“We are partners of the trade union in the effort to increase the coefficients, but also to increase the wages not only of employees in the public sector, but also in the private sector. Our platform includes higher pensions, higher salaries, higher child allowances, protection of resources, the fight against corruption and organized crime, better healthcare and better education in Montenegro,” said Abazović.
