Montenegro Anti-NATO Activists Stage New Year Party

The Serb opposition group in Montenegro, the Democratic Front, announced a new anti-NATO protest for Wednesday against the country's impending membership of the Western military allaince.

The organizers have promised that there will be no political speeches and said people were invited to celebrate the 'Serb New Year', the traditional Orthodox beginning of the year according to the Julian calendar.  

This all-in-one protest party will be held at the main city square in Podgorica and the Serbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro and its leading bishop Amfilohije have given it their blessing.

Amfilohije will also deliver a midnight liturgy after the anti-NATO rally ends.

According a statement from to the organizers, the event will have a "strong anti-NATO character" but will only involve music and entertainment.

One of the leaders of the Democratic Front, Milan Knezevic, said that the New Year's celebration by all anti-NATO groups in the country represents only one of the joint activities they are planning against Montenegro's membership of the alliance.

Knezevic said that the Democratic Front wanted to show its "unbreakable link" with the Montenegrin Metropolitanate, which is part of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

He also said that it wanted to send a clear message the church has always been "a protector of the true values of the Montenegrin people in the past and in present times".

Foes of NATO and fans of Russia last rallied in Podgorica on December 12, demanding a referendum on Montenegro's membership after the Western military alliance invited Podgorica to join on December 2. 

Accusing the government of pushing the country into the alliance against the will of the people, they also blamed Prime...