WORLD NEWS FOR MONTENEGRO DIASPORA
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The candidate of the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) for the president of the country, Milo Đukanović, said that he believes that Montenegrin citizens will decide wisely in the presidential elections, in their own and Montenegro's favor.
After voting in Podgorica, he told reporters that, whoever is in the second round of the election, he is sure that he will have a fair duel.
Đukanović said that he is sure of his superiority.
He stated that he believes that there will be a second round of presidential elections because, as he said, such an offer is on the political scene and there are many candidates.
I don't believe it is realistic to talk about the fact that this can end without a second round - added Đukanović.
Answering a journalist's question about who he would like to see in the second round, he said that he does not prefer anyone in particular and "knows that everyone has the same charge, which is how to defeat the current president".
Đukanović said that he expects that the citizens of Montenegro, with their contribution to the free expression of will, will confirm the democratic maturity of Montenegrin society.
In the previous two and a half decades, we went through many election processes, including the referendum - said Đukanović.
He believes that it was noticeable that the level of democratic culture and responsibility in Montenegro was at a higher level from one process to the next.
According to Đukanović, this is an opportunity for Montenegro to confirm its ability to live in conditions of political and social stability, to continue committed to implementing reforms, achieving standards and achieving a goal that is wholeheartedly supported by three quarters of Montenegrin society.
I believe, based on previous experiences, that the citizens of Montenegro will make a smart decision this time, for their own benefit and that of their country - said Đukanović.
Asked if he can be expected to appear as the DPS list holder in the parliamentary elections, if he loses the elections, he said that he does not plan to lose the presidential elections.
And I can be expected to lead my party in the parliamentary elections - stated Đukanović.
He assessed that, in the last two and a half years, Montenegro has been in a serious crisis - institutional, economic, financial, security.
Montenegro, as Đukanović said, needs a return to the state of normality in which it was for a long time after the restoration of independence and in which it dynamically moved towards its goal.
According to him, the good news is that after these, early parliamentary elections will be held in Montenegro.
Đukanović said that after those elections, Montenegro could get a competent, responsible, reforming government which, together with the president and the parliament, would continue to lead the country towards the desired goal.
He added that it is a great chance and that there is no other and different in a democratic society.
Đukanović said that he thinks that the election opportunity will be taken advantage of and that the citizens will freely decide on the future path of the country's development.
He said that "we may or may not understand the importance of our vote for the future of the country, but we cannot fail to understand that we are thus determining the path of our children's future".
Either we will continue to stumble generationally on the Balkan dead ends, or we will finally find our natural place in the European family, as we all want, I am not talking only about Montenegro but about every Balkan society and state. It is unfortunate that we have lost so many decades - stated Đukanović.
He said that, however, it is never too late.
If we now have both feet on that path, I am an optimist. I think that we can, thanks to our potential, become an exemplary European region - said Đukanović.
Asked how he will build relations with Serbia, if he remains president, he said that his desire is always the same - the best possible relations with all neighbors, starting with that country.
He added that the desire is there, and that he believes that he has proven it with his overall actions.
I said several times during the campaign, I think that the watershed on the Balkan political scene is between politics that believes that a multi-ethnic democracy can live in the Balkans and that we can live the way Europe lives, and nationalists who do not believe in it - stated Đukanović.
He said that the nationalists believe that borders should be corrected, that they should unite in "national and religious worlds".
And I don't believe in that future, and we are simply conflicted when it comes to that conception. This does not mean that we are enemies - said Đukanović.
He said that he is not an enemy of Serbia or anyone individually in that country.
It's just that I consider it my responsibility to defend my approach very tenaciously, believing that it is the best approach for the country I represent - said Đukanović.
As he pointed out, civil Montenegro has no alternative.
If Montenegro were to stray down any nationalist backwater, that would be the way to its end - said Đukanović.
M. J.
