Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic accused his Serbian counterpart Aleksandar Vucic of violating the sovereignty of the countries of the region with the Open Balkan project.

Djukanovic told Albania’s MCN TV that regional alternatives are welcome but that Montenegro has reservations about the project launched by Vucic, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, and former Prime Minister of North Macedonia, Zoran Zaev.

“The Open Balkan project is being presented as an alternative now. Montenegro views it with reservations. Most of the ideas initiated by the project come from other initiatives starting with the Berlin process, CEFTA… Our reasoning is that we should not increase the number of initiatives but should use their capacities, especially those under the patronage of Berlin and Brussels,” Djukanovic said.

He said another reason for his reservations about the Open Balkan project is the fact that it is being “offered as some kind of alternative to the European Union”.

Djukanovic said that Vucic is trying to present himself as a factor of regional cooperation even though “he is the man who violates the sovereignty of neighboring states and the stability of the region”.

“He used Milosevic’s formula to construe claims that the Serbs in the region are in danger, that he is called to protect their rights in neighboring countries, starting with Montenegro,” he said.