Podgorica, (MINA) – By successfully organizing and hosting the EU-Western Balkans Summit, Montenegro has proved that it is a reliable and responsible host, while the security sector acted in a coordinated, professional manner and in accordance with the highest international standards.

 

Deputy Prime Minister for Security, Defense, Fight agains Crime and Internal Affairs Aleksa Becic said at a press conference that Montenegro managed to organize the largest event in its recent history in a dignified and representative manner.

 

He thanked the citizens for following the authorities’ instruction and for their patience and cooperation.

 

“The goals have been achieved, Montenegro has proven to be a reliable and responsible host”, said Becic.

 

According to him, it is possible today, because Montenegro now has professional security institutions and leadership.

 

Becic pointed out that Montenegro is building a system of strong institutions, where no one is stronger than the state.

 

Minister of Internal Affairs Danilo Saranovic said that Montenegro and its intelligence and security services had once again confirmed their capacity to secure events of the highest rank.

 

Police Administration director Lazar Scepanovic assessed that Montenegro has once again demonstrated that its institutional framework, security capacities, professionalism, efficiency and ability to organize and secure an event of the highest international significance.

 

Asked if they requested information from Serbian Security Information Agency (BIA) regarding their claims that Radoje Zvicer was hiding in Montenegro, Scepanovic replied that the Police had immediately contacted the law enforcement authorities in Serbia and that they had not received an answer regarding Zvicer to date.

 

When asked if they would check if the 87 Serbian citizens who had been returned from the Tivat airport participated in extinguishing the fire at Lustica Bay, he said that he did not know whether that group included firefighters, stating that after landing, those individuals were placed under supervision.

 

“Taking into account that among those 87 individuals there are prominent football fans who participated in numerous demonstrations, perpetrators of crimes against life and limb, linked with drug related criminal offenses, participants in certain motorcade rallies, at that moment they were considered a threat to internal security”, Scepanovic said.

 

He added that they were considered a threat because the EU-Western Balkans Summit was being held in Tivat, so their presence in Montenegro, particularly in the southern region, could have posed a threat to internal security.