Podgorica, (MINA) - The withdrawal of the Draft Amendments to the Law on Public Assemblies and Public Events is an important and encouraging development, said President Jakov Milatovic.

In a post on the X social network, Milatovic said that the withdrawal of the contraversial legal proposal was the result of pressure from citizens, civil society and European partners, who clearly said that fundamental rights must not be jeopardized.

“I welcome the decision of the parliamentary majority to accept the appeal of all of us and I see it as a sign that it can and must be done differently, through dialogue and respect for democratic values”, said Milatovic.

According to him, freedom of expression and the right to protest are not privileges, but the foundation of every democratic society.

“I believe that this is a lasting turning point and that there will be no further attempts to pass laws that treat citizens as a threat and undermine their constitutionally guaranteed rights”, Milatovic pointed out.

Milatovic further emphasized that if Montenegro really wants to join the EU, it must begin behaving in accordance with European norms.

He called on the authorities to actively involve the experts, civil sector and the Venice Commission in the drafting of the new legal solution, in line with the highest European standards and in the interest of all citizens.