Montenegro lawmakers back NATO membership in historic move

Russia has been angered by NATO’s expansion to Montenegro, which is in Moscow’s traditional area of interest.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry on Friday denounced the Montenegrin parliament’s ratification of NATO membership as “a demonstrative act of trampling all democratic norms and principles.”

The ministry took a dismissive swipe at the country’s size and military capability, saying that “given the potential of Montenegro, the North Atlantic alliance is unlikely to receive significant ‘added value’.”

Montenegro has accused Russia of being behind a foiled Election Day coup in October allegedly designed to throw the country off its path toward NATO. Russia has denied the accusation, but has actively supported the opposition.

Prime Minister Dusko Markovic told lawmakers that NATO membership was a guarantee for Montenegro’s future security, economic progress and regional stability.

“This assembly and its members have a historic privilege to make a decision that will be remembered as long as there is Montenegro and Montenegrins,” Markovic said. “This day will be marked among the brightest in our history.”

Markovic’s predecessor, Milo Djukanovic, who was the head of government during the alleged coup attempt that reportedly included plans for his assassination, said joining NATO was the most important decision in recent history.

“After long suffering and roaming through history, (Montenegro) is finally in the position where it logically, historically, civilization-wise and culturally belongs,” Djukanovic said.

Anti-NATO demonstrators chanted “Treason!” and “Thieves!” and burned a NATO flag during the protest outside parliament before peacefully dispersing. A banner read: “NATO murderers, your hands are bloody!”

“I feel humiliated because others are making a decision in my name,” former Montenegrin President Momir Bulatovic said. “What is happening now is triumph by force and lies!”

Opposition leaders said they don’t recognize the parliamentary ratification of the NATO accession and will call a referendum on the issue, if they come to power in the future.

The country of 620,000 has been historically divided between pursuing pro-Western policies and sticking to an alliance with Orthodox Christian allies Serbia and Russia.

Both Russia and the pro-Russia opposition in Montenegro also have evoked the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia in 1999 —which included Serbia and Montenegro at the time — as a reason to stay out of the alliance.

Markovic said Montenegro was drawn into Serbia’s war with NATO and that membership in the alliance would help prevent anything like that from happening again.

“NATO and the EU have always been and remain a guarantee of stability and security and co-operation and the main basis for peace in Europe,” Markovic said. “It is about what kind of future we choose for us and generations to come,” he said.

Montenegro was formally invited to join NATO in December 2015. Markovic said 27 out of 28 NATO member states have ratified Montenegro’s entry protocol and Spain would do so in the coming weeks.

Montenegro gained independence from Serbia in 2006.

Predrag Milic, The Associated Press

by Canadian Press

Montenegro lawmakers back NATO membership in historic move

Our Community