Latest News from Montenegro
Montenegrin Assembly unanimously in favor of joining NATO
The Montenegrin Assembly on Friday voted unanimously in favor of Montenegro's membership in NATO.
46 members of the Assembly from the DPS, the Bosniak Party, the Social-Democrats, the Croatian Civil initiative, the "Albanians Resolutely" coalition, and the SDP all voted in favor, Montenegrin media are reporting.
Montenegro MPs Back NATO Treaty Despite Protests
Members of Montenegro's parliament on Friday ratified the country's NATO membership treaty while thousands protested outside the old royal palace in the town of Cetinje where the ceremonial session took place.
The vote marked the final steps in the country's long drawn-out accession process.
Montenegro MPs Gather For Historic NATO Vote
Montenegro's parliament is set to ratify the NATO membership treaty on Friday, at a ceremonial session held in the old royal capital of Cetinje.
The vote will mark one of the final steps in the country's long drawn-out accession process.
The law is likely to pass, as it only requires a simple majority of the 81 MPs, and the ruling coalition holds 42 seats.
Moldova's President Bars Military from NATO Exercise
Moldova's pro-Russian President Igor Dodon has for a second time since the beginning of the year forbidden his country's military to participate in a NATO exercise in Romania, presidency sources quoted by Moldovan media said on Thursday.
McCain Calls for Greater US, EU Engagement in Balkans
John McCain
Increased U.S. and European engagement in the Western Balkans will be critical to countering an increasingly assertive Russian in the region, Republican Arizona Senator John McCain told VOA Wednesday.
Shoigu: Montenegro's military potential equals zero
Sergey Shoigu
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu says Montenegro's NATO membership is needed in order to "step up the alliance's control in the Balkans."
According to Shoigu, NATO continues projecting its forces near Russia's borders, and including new states in its sphere of influence.
Balkan States Suffer Decline in Media Freedom
Reporters Without Borders, which campaigns for media freedom and journalists' rights, said in its 2017 World Press Freedom Index, published on Wednesday, that there have been significant setbacks over the past year in Croatia and Serbia, although Macedonia still has the worst problems in the Balkan region.
"Montenegro's military potential equals zero"
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu says Montenegro's NATO membership is needed in order to "step up the alliance's control in the Balkans."
According to Shoigu, NATO continues projecting its forces near Russia's borders, and including new states in its sphere of influence.
Killer of Red Star supporter loses both legs in explosion
A man identified as Dusko Roganovic on Monday lost both legs in an explosion at the main bus station in Montenegro's coastal town of Herceg Novi.
Belgrade's Vecernje Novosti daily is reporting this on Tuesday.
Montenegrin Court to Rule on Marovic's Jail Term
The High Court in Podgorica is expected to decide on Wednesday whether Svetozar Marovic may remain in Belgrade for medical treatment or should return to Montenegro to serve his three-year prison sentence.
Marovic, jailed for corruption, has been in Serbia for months. His lawyers say he was admitted to a mental health institution on April 7.
Kosovo Ruling Party Officials Hint at Snap Polls
Shkuri Buja, an MP with the ruling Kosovo Democratic Party, PDK, which is currently in government with its junior partner, the Democratic League of Kosovo, LDK, told BIRN on Tuesday that the break-up of the coalition is near.
Montenegro’s Capital Sues Priests for Market ‘Break-In’
To avoid directly targeting the influential Serbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro, Podgorica’s mayor filed a criminal complaint against unknown perpetrators, who were “dressed like priests”, for holding a mass on disputed property.
Serbia warns of new Balkan war if Albania unites with Kosovo
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said an interview with Politico he cannot rule out a union between Albania and the breakaway province of Kosovo – formerly part of Yugoslavia – if the country’s EU membership bid is off the agenda. Rama added that such an alliance with Kosovo was not his own wish “but a possible alternative to the closed door of the European Union”.
Montenegro to Try Kosovo War Murder Suspect
An ex-soldier accused of involvement in the killing of Kosovo Albanians in 1999 while he was serving with the Yugoslav Army will start next month - the first war crimes trial in Montenegro in years.
Ministerial team set up to deal with Agrokor crisis
BELGRADE - A ministerial team has been set up to maintain daily communication to exchange information and undertake joint activities aimed at protecting jobs, supplier interests and stable operation of companies within Croatia's troubled food concern Agrokor.