Pro-Russian Parties Seek To Derail Montenegro’s NATO Bid
▻http://www.rferl.org/content/montenegro-opposition-protests-nato-bid/27395329.html
Pro-Russian parties in Montenegro are stoking unrest in Montenegro in an apparent bid to sabotage Podgorica’s hopes of receiving an invitation from NATO next week to join the alliance.
For weeks, pro-Russian protesters led by the right-wing New Serbian Democracy (NOVA) party, have taken to the streets of Podgorica to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic and either snap elections or an interim government.
Djukanovic, who refuses to step down, has accused Russia and Serbia of instigating the turmoil in the run-up to the meeting of NATO’s foreign ministers in Brussels on December 1-2.
He has suggested the goal is to make Montenegro look unstable, discouraging NATO from taking it in. The alliance itself has not committed to issuing an invitation but has offered Podgorica strong encouragement in its quest to become a member while linking progress to reforms.