On Friday, the leader of the Democratic People's Party (DNP) Milan Knezevic warned that NATO membership will worsen social divisions in Montenegro and called on the government to hold a referendum on the issue.
"The DNP calls on all members and sympathizers, free-thinking citizens, to come to a big anti-NATO gathering at which once again we will announce the position that Montenegro must remain militarily neutral, and that eventual membership of this aggressive military alliance will further deepen existing divides, particularly if the decision is taken without any consultation with citizens."
Knezevic also said the government should reverse its decision to join sanctions against Russia, after having imposed them last year in line with EU policy.
"That would mean the beginning of warming up onerous internal relations, both in Montenegrin politics and in society … for Montenegro at this time, alignment on any side is economically, socially and civilizationally disastrous."
Earlier this month Vujanovic told Montenegrin television that NATO membership gives Montenegro a guarantee of territorial and sovereign integrity. The alliance of Serbia and Montenegro was dissolved peacefully in 2006 following a referendum in which 55 percent of Montenegrins voted for independence.
"If they (the current government) followed the desire and recommendations of those who founded Montenegro we would never need to distance ourselves from our historical allies, who have been together with us for centuries, who protected Montenegro and cared about her future, because only good historical alliances give assurances for the future," said Mandic.
"This experiment and marionette of Montenegrin authority which is pushing us into the embrace of 28 NATO countries, which pushes us into an alliance with, for example, Albania and Turkey, essentially against Serbia and against Russia, is not the choice or our ancestors, not our choice, and probably not the choice of our descendants."
Posted by Istorija Srbske Crne Gore on Wednesday, 14 October 2015
When Stoltenberg visited Podgorica in October to discuss the invitation with Montenegro's president, foreign minister and defense minister, hundreds of protestors gathered on the street outside to protest. They shouted slogans including "Kosovo is Serbia," "This is not a NATO country," and "NATO killers, you have blood on your hands.
