Podgorica, (MINA) - The initiative by Montenegrin President Jakov Milatovic to assess the constitutionality of certain provisions of the Law on the Armed Forces of Montenegro (VCG) has a political background and aims to eliminate the Government’s role in managing the defense system, Defense Minister Dragan Krapovic claims.

Krapovic told Radio Montenegro that Milatovic’s initiative for a constitutionality assessment of certain provisions of this law, which give the Minister of Defense the authority to decide on the use of the Armed Forces and to appoint, dismiss and promote officers, is doomed to fail before the Constitutional Court.

He said that once the Ministry of Defense receives the initiative through the Government, it would clearly respond to it, addressing each point one by one.

“I leave it to the Constitutional Court as an institution to deliver its verdict. I will not speculate or give my final opinion, but I think that for the most part this initiative has been completely unfounded and is doomed to fail before the Constitutional Court”, said Krapovic.

He argues that Milatovic’s initiative is politically motivated, with an intention to eliminate the Government’s role in managing the defense system.

Krapovic also assessed that with this move, Milatovic wants to ensure political relevance for himself and divert attention from the affair that recently shook his cabinet.