Vujanović: Nikolić is seriously interfering in Montenegro's state policy

Montenegrin President Filip Vujanović assessed that Serbian President Tomislav Nikolić, with his latest statements, is "seriously interfering" in Montenegro's state policy and proposed that the "discussion from public should move to a personal level", and that things should be "clarified in favor of "good relations" between the two countries and their peoples, reports the Patria News Agency.

Filip Vujanović commented for the Podgorica "Portal Analitika" on Nikolić's stance expressed in an interview with the Russian agency "Sputnik", stating that "Montenegro, by choosing to be part of the EU and NATO, is consciously nullifying its independence and agreeing to be someone's toy".

The Montenegrin state leadership had previously reacted to the Serbian President's statements, assessing them as "some new tones from a high state address in Belgrade", while Vujanović later advocated for "further clarification" in personal communication.

- The public discussion on this should be moved to a personal level and we should further clarify things with each other in favor of the good relations between Montenegro and Serbia and our close peoples. Such relations imply respect for sovereignty, equality, and non-interference in internal affairs, Vujanović stated.

The Montenegrin President assessed that Nikolić, with the statement that Montenegro "agrees to be someone's toy", in the context of its aspirations for EU and NATO membership, and by evaluating the "state decisions" of official Podgorica in that regard, is "seriously interfering in the state policy" of another country.

Vujanović said that Tomislav Nikolić, with his latest statements, has "personally insulted" the President of Montenegro and the Prime Minister, and added that he "wants to believe" that this was done unintentionally, according to Serbian media.