Milatović: I will declare myself a Montenegrin who speaks Serbian on the census

(Patria) - The President of Montenegro, Jakov Milatović, stated that he will declare himself a Montenegrin who speaks Serbian on the census, adding that he and his family declared themselves as such in 2011.

- By national affiliation, I am Montenegrin, and I speak Serbian - Milatović pointed out in last night's show on Adria Television.

The meeting between Montenegrin Prime Minister Milojko Spajić and representatives of the ruling majority, the opposition, the council for minority nations, the civil sector, the Statistical Office, and the ministries of economy and human and minority rights, which was held yesterday at the Government and where changes to the Census Law and the establishment of a software solution for controlling entered data were to be discussed, passed in a good spirit, but concluded without any concrete agreement.

The Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) remains committed to boycotting the census of Montenegro, although they "saw readiness" from Spajić to fulfill the DPS's conditions for holding the census, but there is not enough time until November 30, when the census should begin.

The Vice-President of the DPS, Jevto Eraković, stated today for Podgorica TVE that they did not hear from Spajić that the census must begin on November 30, but the Speaker of the Parliament, Andrija Mandić, who is one of the leaders of the "For the Future of Montenegro" coalition, whose support the Government's survival depends on, "strongly advocates" for it.

The once ruling party DPS demands that the census be "controlled", that the DPS have a "parity number of enumerators", that the entry and processing of data be "clearly monitored", and that a "software solution be implemented" so that citizens can check the data they provided.

Spajić stated that any further postponement of the census could cause new costs, especially due to the "fiscal moment" Montenegro is in.

- In this regard, we must all show a high degree of responsibility - Spajić said after the meeting with part of the opposition, some ministers, and the NGO sector.