Vucic on Montenegro: Relations with Neighbors and Friends Much More Than Conventions

Aleksandar Vucic(BETAPHOTO/MILAN OBRADOVIC/DS)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic called the government’s decision to rescind its order to expel Montenegrin Ambassador to Serbia Tarzan Milosevic absolutely correct, saying that the relations with one’s neighbors and friends are much more than conventions.

In the evening on Nov. 29, Vucic said that by revoking the expulsion order, Serbia has shown that it is strong and “has nothing to lose.” “We’ve done a good thing for Serbia… It’s up to us to show that we want friendly, best possible and fraternal relations with Montenegro. I believe that our decision will help bring about a better atmosphere and introduce greater responsibility in [our] relations,” the president stated.

The idea to rescind the order was his, Vucic further said, adding that Prime Minister Ana Brnabic and Foreign Minister Nikola Selakovic both agreed with him.

The president said that Selakovic, when the Serbian Foreign Ministry had made its decision to declare Milosevic a persona non grata, was acting in accordance with the Vienna Convention, “and how a sovereign country should act,” but that he, personally, was of the opinion that neighborly relations are “much more than conventions.”

According to Nikola Selakovic, Serbian Ambassador to Montenegro Vladimir Bozovic, who was expelled from Montenegro earlier, had made no diplomatic offense. Even if he had, the foreign minister believes, that was no reason for Montenegro to make such a decision, adding that they should have sent a letter of protest instead.