WORLD NEWS FOR MONTENEGRO DIASPORA
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SOURCE:ANTENA M – AUTHOR:M.J. GDNUS
Minister of Diaspora Mirsad Azemović emphasized that with the Diaspora Register, which has been published and will be updated in the coming period, they will receive an approximately accurate number of emigrants. The current assumption is that there are around 600,000 of them, and the register will also serve as a good base of personnel who can contribute to the development of Montenegro. The Blue Card model that exists in some countries, where the diaspora has the same rights as citizens of the home country, except for the right to vote, is, in Azemović's opinion, not applicable in Montenegro. He believes that it is time to discuss citizenship in a common sense manner and to find the best solution for both the state and the emigrants with the help of institutions and the international community.
Azemović pointed out in the show "Let's be vigilant - ask the government" that there is an evident outflow of quality personnel from the country and that the state must find a strategy to retain young people. As he emphasized, it must invest in some form of closer cooperation and motivation to include them in our system. He expects that in 2025, when the diaspora register comes into effect, much-needed communication will be established with personnel in the diaspora who can help in the development of any area.
"The diaspora register has been completed and is on the government's website. It was created in cooperation with the Ministry of Public Administration, and if we run a good campaign and promote the positive aspects of the register, which will also include NGOs, and 100,000 euros have been allocated for these purposes, then we can expect results. It is realistic to talk about about 600,000 emigrants, and if the register comes into effect, we will have approximately accurate data and a base with which Montenegro will be able to work in any sphere," said Azemović.
When asked whether the Blue Card model, which exists in Turkey, for example, is acceptable, and which implies that expatriates have all the rights of Montenegrin citizens, but without the right to vote, Azemović emphasizes that they are more in favor of the European path and that with the country's entry into the EU, which should happen soon, various shortcomings and illogicalities with citizenship will be resolved.
"Montenegro is multi-religious and has many foreigners who want Montenegrin citizenship, so my and my party's commitment is to stick to the European path and that Barometer 26 should be respected until the end, which is until 2026. When we enter the EU, the rule of law and the joining of all our forces will be further strengthened, even beyond our borders. I understand that there are absurd situations, that one child in a family has a Montenegrin passport and another does not, that, for example, a gentleman from Serbia who has a chamber of engineers' license cannot use it here, because he does not have a place of residence. There is a lot of illogicality and we need to sit down and talk about it. The time has come to think about it with common sense and in the national interest, and the priority interest is joining the EU," Azemović emphasized.
He explains that the Turkish Blue Card, a model proposed by DNP MP Milan Knežević, treats eight million Turkish citizens outside Turkey and they have all the rights, except the right to vote and be elected in elections.
"It works quite well, but it is a large country with great influence in the world and their diaspora is only 10 percent of the population. And we are saying that we have another Montenegro outside. Can our institutions theoretically accept all 600,000 people tomorrow to be treated and educated here... Such questions should not be raised, it requires a higher level and the involvement of institutions and the international community to reach an agreement on this," Azemović pointed out.
