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A6 WORLD NEWS
Wednesday 29 March 2023
Montenegro’s president: EU’s neglect gave Russia a platform

By PREDRAG MILIC nomically and financially.
Associated Press “For the past 2 1/2 years,
PODGORICA, Montenegro we have witnessed serious
(AP) — Montenegro’s pro- stumbling by Montenegro,”
Western president criticized Djukanovic said.
the European Union for al- The coalition government
legedly allowing Russia to has pledged that Monte-
spread its influence in the negro would remain on its
Western Balkans, saying European Union path. Mila-
Tuesday that the volatile re- tovic, the president’s chal-
gion has become a “plat- lenger, also has expressed
form” for anti-EU policies support for the country pur-
due to the bloc’s “negli- suing EU membership, but
gence.” President Milo Dju- Djukanovic said the ruling
kanovic spoke to the Asso- majority’s policies indicate
ciated Press as he prepares otherwise.
for a Sunday runoff election Milatovic served as econ-
with a political newcomer omy minister from Decem-
who has the support of the ber 2020 through April 2022.
Montenegrin government, “Mr. Milatovic is a man who
which includes parties is still part of a parliamenta-
seeking closer relations with ry majority which won the
Serbia and Russia. (2020) election and which is
“Russia has simply walked Pro-Western incumbent Milo Djukanovic speaks to journalists after casting his ballot at the polling directly responsible for such
into an open space left by station in Montenegro’s capital Podgorica, Sunday, March 19, 2023. (bad) results,” Djukanovic
the European Union,” Dju- Associated Press charged.
kanovic said of the EU’s po- which was held March portant indicator of the fu- ment, which formally backs Analysts say the Western-
sition toward the Balkans. 19. Analysts in Montene- ture path of Montenegro, a EU integration but is domi- educated Milatovic, 36, is
“The European Union in the gro think his challenger in small NATO member nation nated by parties that favor seen as the favorite on Sun-
past 10 years didn’t know the two-candidate runoff, of 620,000 people. closer ties with Serbia and day against Djukanovic, 61,
what to do with the West- former Economy Minister A political stalemate has Russia. Djukanovic’s Dem- who as prime minister took
ern Balkans, but Russia did. Jakov Milatovic, stands a stalled the country’s EU ocratic Party of Socialists Montenegro to indepen-
It has developed its net- good chance of winning path and raised fears of in- governed the country more dence from Serbia in 2006
work in the Balkans.” because he has the back- stability as the war rages in or less unchallenged for and defied Russia in 2017 to
Djukanovic, who has held ing of other candidates Ukraine.Djukanovic told the three decades. The presi- secure NATO membership.
Montenegro’s largely cer- and political parties. AP the presidential contest dent alleged that the the A political novice, Milato-
emonial presidency since With an early parliamen- presents a choice between ruling coalition that came vic has campaigned as a
2018, won the most votes in tary election scheduled his pro-EU policies and the to power after a 2020 par- fresh face for voters who
the first round of the coun- for June 11, this weekend’s “brutal populism” of the liamentary vote has dev- are fed up with established
try’s presidential election, vote is considered an im- current coalition govern- astated Montenegro eco- politicians. q

Amnesty: West’s ‘double standards’ fuel Mideast repression

By KAREEM CHEHAYEB “robust response” to Rus- repression for millions in the Western nations. She said Today, many European
Associated Press sia’s invasion of Ukraine but region. that’s in stark contrast to governments are calling for
BEIRUT (AP) — A leading remain “lukewarm” on is- The sharp rebuke came as how the same countries reforms to the asylum-seek-
international rights group sues of human rights viola- the London-based watch- generally treat refugees ing system for better effi-
on Tuesday decried what tions in the Middle East. dog launched its annual and migrants trying to flee ciency and to distinguish
it said were double stan- According to Amnesty In- report at a news confer- war-torn Syria, the chaos between refugees fleeing
dards by Western countries ternational, such double ence at its office in Beirut, in Libya or Lebanon’s eco- war and persecution and
that have rallied behind a standards only fuel further Lebanon’s capital. Every nomic meltdown. migrants searching for job
year, the report documents The number of attempts by opportunities, who they say
and analyzes patterns of migrants to enter the Euro- are creating a strain on the
human rights violations and pean Union without autho- asylum system and should
abuses across the world. rization reached around be returned.
In the report, Amnesty 330,000 in 2022, the highest Majzoub spoke to The Asso-
urged the international in five years. In 2015, over 1 ciated Press in an interview
community to hold per- million people, mostly Syr- after the news conference.
petrators of human rights ian refugees fleeing the She praised the interna-
abuses in the Middle East conflict, reached Europe. tional community for de-
and North Africa to ac- Germany received acco- nouncing Russian President
count, and to address the lades for welcoming large Vladimir Putin’s attacks
issue of migration without numbers of Syrian refu- against civilians in Ukraine,
discrimination. gees at the time, and the including systematic torture
“They immediately opened U.S. and European coun- and killing in occupied re-
their borders to receive tries frequently point out gions which a U.N.-backed
Deputy Regional Director for the Middle East & North Africa Aya refugees from Ukraine,” the billions of dollars they inquiry earlier this month
Majzoub, speaks during an interview with The Associated Press Aya Majzoub, Amnesty’s have given in aid to help said amount to war crimes
in Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, March 28, 2023. deputy chief for Mideast refugees and internally dis- and possibly crimes against
Associated Press and North Africa, said of placed Syrians. humanity.q