Montenegrin government

Officials and politicians in Serbia on Sunday condemned Podgorica's decision to ban ceremonies marking the 100th anniversary of the unification of Serbia and Montenegro.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said he doesn't understand the decision, which he said prohibits people in Montenegro from "thinking differently and having a different view of the past".

Both Croatia and Montenegro have said they are discussing the possibility of halting arms exports to Saudi Arabia in the wake of the death of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi, but neither has made a decision yet.

The party reacted to Serbian PM Ivica Dacic recent allegations and added that Serbia was actually actively campaigning against Montenegro and that they would "respond accordingly to these provocations."

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban offered on Tuesday to help Montenegro "defend" its borders from a rising number of migrants and refugees, but his Montengrin counterpart said there was no need yet for a Hungarian-style fence.

After President Trump described Montenegro as a potential source of global conflict, the Montenegrin government said on Thursday that the country is proud of its friendship and alliance with the US, describing the relationship between the two countries as "strong and permanent".

As the Montenegrin government marks the first anniversary of NATO membership with a celebration in the royal capital Cetinje on Tuesday, for the large community of ethnic Serbs in the country, joining the alliance is still seen as an illegal decision that was imposed on them without a vote.

Connectivity among the Western Balkan countries will be the main topic of the EU-Western Balkans summit in Sofia on May 17, according to the Montenegrin government's platform, which BIRN has seen.

The OSCE South east Europe Media Conference, meeting in Struga, Macedonia, on Thursday adopted a declaration condemning the attack on Montenegrin Vijesti journalist Olivera Lakic, and called on the authorities in Montenegro to ensure that the investigation is independent, effective and speedy and that the perpetrators, including its masterminds, are brought to justice.

Hundreds of journalists and NGO activists protested on Wednesday in front of the Montenegrin government in Podgorica against the recent attack on the Vijesti journalist Olivera Lakic.

Lakic was shot and wounded late on Tuesday in front of her home in Podgorica.

"Montenegro is at this moment as well with the United Kingdom and supports its efforts to defend its sovereignty and security for its citizens," the Montenegrin government said on Twitter.

Skripal and his daughter were found last week in an unconscious state on a bench in the town of Salisbury.

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