Milatovic: Serbia’s Entry Ban for Jovana Marovic Contrary to Good Neighborly Relations

Jakov Milatovic ,Belgrade, July 10 2023 (BETAPHOTO/AMIR HAMZAGIC)

Montenegrin President Jakov Milatovic stated on Aug. 23 that Serbia banning entry to Montenegro’s former deputy prime minister Jovana Marovic runs contrary to the development of good neighborly relations and expressed his confidence that Marovic does not pose a security threat.
 
“I’ve just spoken to Jovana Marovic. She is well and has arrived in Montenegro. I’m surprised that she was denied entry to Serbia, especially given her longtime involvement in civil society, both in Montenegro and the region. I’m confident that Jovana is not a security threat to Serbia,” Milatovic wrote in an evening tweet on the X social platform.

“In the context of a European future, the region should strive towards open borders, even for citizens who are critical of the authorities and [their] policies,” the post reads.

“Entry bans over divergent political opinions are a practice we must leave behind if we want to build good neighborly relations,” Milatovic added.

Once a deputy to outgoing Prime Minister Dritan Abazovic and well-known for her opposition to the Open Balkans initiative, Marovic arrived at Belgrade’s Nikola Tesla Airport on Aug. 23 but was denied entry to Serbia “for the protection of the Serbian state and its citizens.” She had been scheduled to participate at the 2023 Terrestrial Forum in Pozega.

According to the Green-Left Front, Marovic was most likely prevented from entering Serbia because she participated in the ‘Serbia Against Violence’ protests – ever since which she has been subject to “intensified attacks” by Serbian tabloids.