Igor Lukšić

Ivan Brajovic, the speaker of Montenegro's parliament, has set April 15 as the date for the country's next presidential election, with a possible second round two weeks later if no candidate wins more than 50 percent of the first round vote.

Montenegro's ruling DPS party wants its leader Milo Djukanovic to be a candidate in the presidential elections in 2018.

The Podgorica-based daily Pobjeda writes that the DPS main board will meet to consider this by the end of the month - and that the mood "at all party levels" is "unanimously" in favor of Djukanovic running.

Montenegro's veteran political leader Milo Djukanovic, who stepped out from running the government last year, might run for the country's presidency in 2018, some analysts are forecasting.

Photo: O. Bunic

Prime Minister Ana Brnabic says Serbia wants to continue good cooperation with Montenegro and that all open issues should be resolved through dialogue.

Prime Minister Ana Brnabic says Serbia wants to continue good cooperation with Montenegro and that all open issues should be resolved through dialogue.

American Vice President Mike Pence praised Montenegro's NATO membership as a "historical achievement" during a meeting with Montenegrin Prime Minister Dusko Markovic in Podgorica on Wednesday.

"NATO is made up of big and small states, but the US does not have small allies," Pence said, adding that his visit illustrates the US' support for the Western Balkans.

Montenegro's ruling DPS leader Milo Djukanovic says his party finds the possibility of "repeating" parliamentary elections held last October "unacceptable."

Montenegrin PM Dusko Markovic, Assembly President Ivan Brajovic, and ruling DPS leader Milo Djukanovic are among the officials on Kremlin's "black list."

Podgorica-based daily Pobjeda writes that they are banned from entering Russia.

Citing diplomatic sources, the newspaper said that the list includes government ministers and MPs who supported Montenegro's membership in NATO.

A former prime minister of Montenegro has appealed to the European Union to curb Russia's "destructive" influence in the Balkans.

Milo Djukanovic made the statement on March 14, several months after what prosecutors said was an attempted coup to overthrow Montenegro's pro-Western government and prevent the country joining NATO.

Montenegro's new Prime Minister, Dusko Markovic, has got off to a radical start - demanding spending cuts and telling sleepy public servants they might as well go home.

Few critics believe his government will deliver anything very new, however.