PODGORICA, June 21 (Hina) - Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic told the domestic weekly Monitor of Thursday he had filed a civil action against the Croatian weekly Nacional and the Montenegrin daily Dan for running articles
alleging that he had taken part in cigarette smuggling. The President told Monitor the action was aimed at protecting him "from the entirely unsubstantiated and tendentious" disparaging of himself and his political activity. "I have filed a civil action to avoid reproaches that I am doing it by abusing the help of other state bodies, the interior ministry, the state prosecutor, and others," said Djukanovic. He resolutely refuted allegations that he had had any personal gain from the transit of cigarettes across Montenegro. He asserted he never gave preferential treatment to anyone with regard to this issue, including his acquaintances and friends. According to Djukanovic, the i
PODGORICA, June 21 (Hina) - Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic
told the domestic weekly Monitor of Thursday he had filed a civil
action against the Croatian weekly Nacional and the Montenegrin
daily Dan for running articles alleging that he had taken part in
cigarette smuggling.
The President told Monitor the action was aimed at protecting him
"from the entirely unsubstantiated and tendentious" disparaging of
himself and his political activity.
"I have filed a civil action to avoid reproaches that I am doing it
by abusing the help of other state bodies, the interior ministry,
the state prosecutor, and others," said Djukanovic.
He resolutely refuted allegations that he had had any personal gain
from the transit of cigarettes across Montenegro. He asserted he
never gave preferential treatment to anyone with regard to this
issue, including his acquaintances and friends.
According to Djukanovic, the international community at this
moment is not inclined towards Montenegro's initiative for gaining
independence as it entails two problems, Kosovo and fear from the
creation of a mini-state in Europe.
He stressed, however, that neither Europe nor the United States had
severed diplomatic ties with Montenegro, nor set any ultimatums,
but continued extending economic assistance.
"When the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia ceases to exist, when
Montenegro becomes independent, all interested parties will have
to face the fact that the Kosovo issue has not been settled. That is
why the notion of an independent Montenegro is encountering no
favours," said the president.
Another reason is the recent "fear of Europe's fragmentation, of
the creation of new mini-states, and the possibility of harmonising
these mini-states' interests in the united Europe of the future,"
Djukanovic said.
(hina) ha sb