Montenegro’s New President Promises to Work on Reconciliation in Montenegro

Montenegro’s newly-elected president Jakov Milatovic pledged in his inaugural speech on May 20 (YouTube/PrintScreen)

Montenegro’s newly-elected president Jakov Milatovic pledged in his inaugural speech on May 20 that he would be the president of all citizens, irrespective or their nationality, religion or other affiliations, that he would work on reconciliation in Montenegro and pledged not to divide citizens into those who voted for him and those who did not, saying that his main goal was Montenegro’s accession to the European Union and good neighborly relations.

“I am deeply aware of the responsibility that comes with the enormous trust expressed in the elections, I will be a true president of all citizens, regardless of their political, national and religious affiliations, or any other personal characteristics,” the new president said.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, his Croatian counterpart, Zoran Milanovic, members of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Zeljka Cvijanovic and Zeljko Komsic, the Albanian president, Bajram Begaj, and President Vjosa Osmani of Kosovo. Milatovic’s predecessor Milo Djukanovic attended the ceremony as well, together with a former Montenegrin president, Filip Vujanovic, and Montenegro’s former prime ministers, Zdravko Krivokapic, Dusko Markovic and Igor Luksic.

Milatovic’s official inauguration was also attended by the U.S., British and German envoys for the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar, Stuart Peach and Manuel Sarrazin, respectively, and Bulgarian Prime Minister Galeb Donev.