Djukanovic: Law Is Alibi for Anti-Montenegrin Campaign

Milo Djukanovic

Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic has said that the Law on Freedom of Religion is not the cause of the resistance or protests organized by the Serbian Orthodox Church, but is rather just an alibi for an anti-Montenegrin campaign designed to force Montenegro to capitulate, said a statement released on Jan. 31 in Podgorica.

Addressing a municipal chapter of the Democratic Party of Socialists in Podgorica, Djukanovic said that he would not agree to any kind of blackmail.

If anyone is counting on persistence and perseverance of the protests leading to us making a deal by giving up the state and state-owned property of Montenegro, that won't happen, said Djukanovic, adding that Montenegro's opponents did not rest.

"They live in the belief that Montenegro will disappear sooner or later. That exists as a hope, it exists very consistently, as a persistent, unshakable strategy for turning that hope into a reality," he said.

For the last few days, Djukanovic has been touring the municipal chapters of his Democratic Party of Socialists after the adoption of the law that sparked the biggest civic protests, organized by the Serbian Orthodox Church.