Albanian Minister in Montenegro Government: Deputy Prime Minister's Declarations for Kosovo Personal Attitude Is Red Line for Us

These comments, Geka has made in an answer to Albanian Post, where she has announced that Zogovic's statement will require the next Montenegrin executive session, position by other members of the government.

“at the first session of Government will ask this question and we will ask other members of the government to express themselves to this statement”, Geeka told the AP.

Zogovic is part of the coalition “for Montenegro's Future”, known for their pro-Russian-Serbian positions. This coalition, Milojko Spajic, leader of the “Europe Movement Tani”, to become prime minister had made it part of the majority, even given the post to the Speaker of the Assembly, which is held by Andrija Mandic, whom Russia's Vladimir Putin considers his president.

Initially, pro-Russian forces had only the Speaker of the Parliament, while recently they also became part of Spajic's government, taking important positions, as Zogovic holds.

But when Spajic had reached agreement with some political parties in Montenegro, including several Albanian parties and pro-Serbian parties, all had signed what is known as the principle agreement.

It reportedly supports Ukraine's territorial integrity, as well as sanctions against Russia, further strengthening Montenegro's NATO participation, advancing minority rights, uncontested support of the sovereignty of neighbouring countries, including Kosovo.

“The statement by Deputy Mayor Zogovic is his personal position. Because, with entry into Montenegro's government, we have signed a political agreement that says there is no change in the country's foreign policy. And that means developing good neighbourly relations with the Republic of Kosovo”, Geka tells the AP.

But this way, with these scandalous statements, the Albanian minister in Montenegro's government stresses that Zogovic and his subject “destroy that deal”.

This is a red line for us and they know it well”, Geka warns.

In an interview for Montenegrin media “Aplus”, Deputy Prime Minister Zogovic has said that with the introduction into the Spajic government, there has been no change in attitude as far as Kosovo is concerned. He has propagand that “Kosovo is Serbia's southern province”.

“As for Montenegro's international obligations, everything will be respected, but I have my opinion that Kosovo is part of deliberately disconnected Serbia. I have expressed this position in the Assembly a few days before I entered Government”, Zogovic has declared, although officially Prime Minister Spajic and the majority of his cabinet accept and support reality in terms of Kosovo.

Once the movement “Europe now” comes to power with Prime Minister Milojko Spajic, many international connoisseurs of developments in the Western Balkans have expressed concern over the orientation the Montenegrin government may have, as part of it are also pro-Serbian forces.

Concerns were growing when Andrija Mandic, a pro-Russian-Serbian who appears at the Serbian Progressive Party headquarters (SNS) ) Aleksandar Vucic's party during electoral processes in Serbia, had taken up the post of Parliament Speaker.

In addition, Mandic has expressed himself and continues to express himself openly against Kosovo's independence. He had even held a hunger strike when Montenegro had recognised Kosovo's independence.

On the other hand, Albanians who are part of Spajic's executive (have three ministries, including a post of deputy prime minister), have claimed they will not stay in the government at any moment if the Montenegrin state's stance on Kosovo changes.

Otherwise, Kosovo and Montenegro have been constituent countries within Yugoslavia, but with different status.

Montenegro has been one of the six republics of the Yugoslav Federation, while Kosovo was an autonomous province within Serbia, and this until 1989, when then Serbian fascist President Slobodan Milosevic cancelled it.

Montenegro is the last country to secede from Yugoslavia, and that is no further than in 2006. The move for secession from Yugoslavia had led former Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic.

When Kosovo declared its independence on February 17th 2008, Montenegro only months later, exactly October 9th 2008, had recognised its independence. The prime minister at the time was Djukanovic.

Montenegro's recognition of Kosovo was very important, as a neighbouring country was being reconciled to its independence. It was the 49th country that had recognised Kosovo's independence.