MONTENEGRO: DJUKANOVIC RETURNS ON STAGE, PM DESIGNATED
(ANSAmed) - PODGORICA, FEBRUARY 21 - The President of the small
former Yugoslav Republic of Montenegro, Filip Vujanovic,
yesterday formally nominated Milo Djukanovic Prime
Minister-Designated, official sources from Podgorica announced.
The nomination was widely expected after the resignation of
the former head of the Government from the same party, Zeljko
Sturanovic, for health reasons on January 31.
A long-time leader of the country (despite the fact that he
just turned 45) and father of the peacefully gained independence
from Serbia in 2006, Djukanovic has already held the office of
president (twice) and of prime minister (three times). He is
well received by the western governments as an interlocutor, who
has directed the country towards a rapprochement with the EU and
NATO, but with Russia as well, with which he re-established
significant economic relations. And all this despite the
involvement in a still open inquiry by the prosecutor's office
in Bari, concerning an old case of alleged illegal traffic, of
which he has always declared himself not guilty.
His government will be subject on February 28 to the vote of
the Parliament where the majority is firmly controlled by the
Socialdemocratic Party of Montenegro: a dominant political power
in Podgorica, of which Djukanovic remained an undisputed leader
even after having renounced any governmental office some time
after the victorious popular referendum on the secession from
Belgrade. (ANSAmed).
2008-02-21 15:56