Just over a week ago, after staying in Brussels, Prime Minister Edi Rama declared with conviction that Montenegro would join the Open Balkaninitiative, which he said was a matter of time for everyone to join.
"The Open Balkans function and will always work better and better. Now we expect Montenegro to join, that is, it is a matter of time, I have always said, it is a matter of time to join everyone in fact that there is nowhere else this work goes except to co-operation, to co-operation, so it is certainly a waste of time for those who hesitate, or refuse to join, But we don't have time to waste," Rama said.
Rama's bid for Montenegro to become a part followed the election of Albanian Drinan Abbasovic as Prime Minister of Montenegro. Abazovic has voiced pro-this initiative.
But in this statement it seems that Rama did the shopping without the hanji. Abbasovic is prime minister thanks to the votes of Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic's party. The latter reiterated his stance against participation in the Open Balkans.
Djukanovic, after tuesday's meeting with Germany's president, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, said Montenegro and the region's states need membership in the European Union and not alternatives, as he called the 'Open Balkans'.
"We have different positions on this initiative. I have heard many times from him that as part of his support for all regional initiatives, I also support this. Also, sometimes I have publicly stated that I do not think this is an optimal initiative", Djukanovic said.
Rama responded to these statements 24 hours later.
"Anyone who opposes the Open Balkans is in their own right that neither see nor hear, nor understand that this started promotes peace, co-operation, integration and accelerates the Berlin Process! The Open Balkans will not stop because the future cannot stop," he wrote.
However, as long as Podgorica appoints the government Milo Djukanovic is the one in his power whether the country should join the Open Balkans or not. Drin Abazovic without Djukanovic's consent has his hands tied, even risking collapsing the government under his feet with a snap of his fingers.
Therefore, Edi Rama did the shopping without the hanji when he said that Montenegro would join the Open Balkans, now that the Prime Minister had been elected an open proselytist.
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