President of the Parliament of Montenegro Marked the International Day of Democracy

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After the Civic Alliance (CA) warned the Parliament of Montenegro that it shouldn’t repeat last year’s omission, the President of the Parliament Ranko Krivokapić issued, on September 15, 2012, a congratulatory message for the citizens of Montenegro to mark the International Day of Democracy.

„No society can be forced into democracy. The democracy grows together with the society, with the awareness that no freedom is ever guaranteed and should be taken for granted. All freedoms need to be defended again and again“, Krivokapić said in the congratulatory message.

Krivokapić said that democratic values and freedoms have to be conquered every day and added that Montenegrin democratic institutions today are much stronger than in 2006, and will be yet stronger „six years' time“.

Krivokapić added that the Parliament and the other democratic institutions in the country, as services to the citizens, will continue to give their full contributions on Montenegro's road to full membership in the European Union.

One day before, the Civic Initiative (CA) warned the Parliament of Montenegro that it should not repeat last year's omission when it was the only parliament in the region that didn't mark the International Day of Democracy.

„This institution in particular has the obligation and responsibility to lead by example and initiate all positive democratic changes“, CA noted.

CA believes that Montenegro, in general, follows a positive trend in terms of democratic development of the society, but that it has yet to reach a satisfactory levels and speed of positive democratic changes, as evident in the numerous reports of international organizations.

„Over the coming period of time, we need to focus on the areas in which we are earning bad grades to avoid a situation in which we would again be given the status of deffective democracy. In that regard, more work needs to be done to develop the cooperation with the civil society, the anti-corruption policies, efficient use of available instruments, overcoming socio-economic barriers, excessive influence that interest groups have on decisiom-makers, freedom of expression and association“, the Civic Alliance says.

CA appealed to all actors involved in the Elections to make contributions and ensure that the comind election campaign would be a step forward towards a developed democracy.

„We hope that they will all accept the fact that Montenegro is state of citizens and that they will conduct campaigns based on arguments and programming solutions, not campaigns focused on identity issues and matters that touch on the private life of citizens”, Civic Alliance says. (Source: Civic Alliance/Website of the Parliament of Montenegro)