Montenegro’s PM, Mr Duško Markoivć, said during the Prime Minister’s hour in the Parliament today that Montenegro had managed to mitigate social end economic consequence of the coronavirus epidemic and that it would continue to fight for domestic cleverness and potential. As far as the current level of infection in Montenegro is concerned, Mr Marković is concerned about the fact that we are exposed to the importation of the virus from several sides and locations, even more than in March. PM also expressed his concern over the fact that number of contacts infected persons had is very high. Commenting on the recently held Adria tennis tour in Montenegro, Mr Marković pointed out that the country hadn’t given in to the famous names and financial corporations, the decision he is very proud of.
DPS member, Mr Andrija Nikolić, asked what the Government intended to do in health an d economic context with the aim of mitigating consequences of the possible new wave of the virus in Montenegro.
Mr Marković said it was still not known how long the epidemic would last and its consequences would be.
“We did our best to prevent spread of the virus. We invested efforts and considerable financial funds. We managed to mitigate economic and social consequences”, Mr Marković said.
He reiterates that the Government has prepared the third package of economic measures which will have development character.
PM touched on the examples of irresponsible behavior of individuals.
“COVID-19 has spread again, through importation from Serbia, due to the irresponsibility of several individuals. Cluster from Budva, with 11 infected persons, can be directly linked to attending football match in Belgrade, while as many as 31 cases in the cluster in Rožaje, which spread across Bar, Ulcinj and Berane, are connected to unauthorized cross-border movements to Tutin municipality in Serbia. That’s 42 out of 59 cases, or 76%”, Mr Marković said.
Epidemic research for 12 new cases, with similar indications of importation, is underway.
“The science agrees on one thing. In case of defiance of preventive measures, physical distancing, wearing masks and hand hygiene on particular, it is very likely the disease will spread even before fall. The way virus was imported indicates low level of collective responsibility and personal sense of caution and danger from the infection”, PM said.
About Adria tour
Mr Marković says that our country has allowed Adria tour, provided that there are maximum 200 people in a public place.
“I heard claims that Montenegro has made a serious mistake by not allowing tennis tour. That’s not true! We allowed it, but under conditions set by the National Coordination Body. Citizens’ health is top priority, that’s what we said. We are proud of that decision”, Mr Marković said.
DF member, Mr Nebojša Medojević, asked PM is statements made by specific ministers could be understood as Government’s confession that neo-liberal economic model, implemented since 1998, had led to economic corruption, poverty, extreme social inequality, debt slavery and breakdown of public finances.
Mr Marković said that Mr Medojević judged neo-liberalism as no one else in the modern history.
PM dismissed Mr Meodjević’ claims about poor economic position of citizens, referring to indicators of economic activities and salaries.
Mr Marković said that since 2007, average real growth amounted to 2,8%, whereas cumulative growth amounted to 42,4%.
Of all countries in the region, Montenegro has the highest average pension and average net salary in 2019.
“Apart from that, total FDI inflow form 2006-2019 amounted to €10,3 billion, while net inflow amounted to €7 billion. Average share of FDI in GDP between 2006 and 2019 amounts to over 21% , the highest percentage not only in the region but in the entire South-East Europe”, Mr Marković said.
Asked if there was any place in the world where priests are arrested, Mr Marković answers:
“Nowhere in the world can you see the MPs boycott the Parliament for 4 years and enter the local parliament through windows. In every country where priests violate law, they are arrested. Since you are on Facebook, take a look at how Greek or Macedonian government dealt with that”, Mr Marković said.
I will personally congratulate DF on victory
Mr Marković commented on Mr Medojević’s remark that government “is preparing something terrible on the day of parliamentary elections, 30 August”.
“There haven’t been civil wars or conflicts in Montenegro’s recent history. There have been some tough moments but what you are saying – that Montenegro will fall apart, that autonomous provinces will be formed – we have heard so many similar messages before the referendum and after the referendum and every time Montenegro came out of it stronger. What you are saying is nonsense, just like everything you have been saying lately. If you win the elections, I will be the first to congratulate”, Mr Marković said.
Asked who the security in front of the Municipal building in Budva is, Mr Markoivć said he couldn’t answer as that matter was not in his competence.
“However, I inquired about that and found out that it’s private security from Nikšić”, Mr Markoivć said.
Salaries of some directors are too high
Mr Raško Konjević from Socialist Democratic Party asked Mr Marković if the Government had considered the problem of companies owned mostly by the state which had been recording negative results and accumulating debts over the past few years.
Mr Marković agreed that salaries of some directors are too high and said he would insist that managers of those companies prepared enactments on salaries of the employees.
