site.btaPresident Milatovic: Politicians Have Turned Montenegro into Children's Playground

"The Montenegrin politicians have turned this country into a children's playground by sheer irresponsibility, irresponsible messages and untransparent approach," President Jakov Milatovic of Montenegro said here on Monday.

He spoke at a joint news conference with Bulgarian President Rumen Radev who is paying an official visit to the Balkan country.

"If we want to turn Montenegro into a country of genuine rule of law, of genuinely better quality of life for citizens, we must adopt a more responsible and more transparent approach than the one we are witnessing from the top level in government, including the Prime Minister," the Montenegrin leader pointed out.

"In recent months Montenegro has done a lot to implement its EU accession plan. Until the end of June we expect the European Council to approve the progress made by the country on Chapters 23 and 24, covering rule of law. The [accession negotiating] process can be completed until 2027, as far as we are concerned," Milatovic pointed out. "Montenegro is a success story, that's how it is perceived by Brussels, too. The way Brussels looks at enlargement has changed, and they, too are more optimistic about both Montenegro and the entire Western Balkans region. Montenegro can set an example to the rest of the membership applicants, showing that there is light at the end of the tunnel," the head of State said.