Podgorica, (MINA) – The sessions of the Defense and Security Council are not being organized, although there is a real need for them, said advisor to the President of Montenegro for internal policy and economic development, Nebojsa Vuksanovic.

The Ministry of Defense announced on Monday morning that the Montenegrin Armed Forces (VCG) canceled their participation in the international air exercise “INOCHIOS 26” in Greece, due to the failure of the Defense and Security Council to issue a decision on the participation of Army units in international exercises and training for this year.

Vuksanovic expressed regret that the Defense and Security Council sessions are not being held, even though there is a real need for them.

He stated that in order to convene the session, it is necessary for the Speaker of the Parliament and Prime Minister, Andrija Mandic and Milojko Spajic, to respond to the invitation of President Jakov Milatovic.

“As far as I know, the Parliament Speaker has responded, but the Prime Minister has not been able to find a free slot in his schedule”, Vuksanovic said, as reported by the RTCG portal.

Milatovic recently submitted a proposal to the Constitutional Court to assess the constitutionality of certain provisions of the Law on the VCG, stating that the contested norms derogate from the constitutional competences of the Defense and Security Council and the President of the State.

Vujsanovic stated that the responsibilities of the Defense and Security Council and the Ministry of Defense overlap, adding that these irregularities must be resolved to eliminate any doubts.

Speaking about the arrest of the former Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports Vesna Bratic, he said that the Constitution grants the President the right to issue pardons and that the procedure is defined by the Law on Pardons, according to which the President may grant a pardon at any stage of criminal proceedings.

“The President invited the Ministry of Justice to provide an opinion on this matter, that is, to collect all relevant data, form a case, and make a recommendation regarding it. The Ministry of Justice has not yet completed that part of its work, it is possible that it takes time, and Bratic was ordered house arrest in the meantime”, said Vuksanovic.

He assessed that in practice there is disproportionality when it comes to court verdicts.

“She was detained due to the risk of flight, while on the other hand, the former president of the Supreme Court, Vesna Medenica, was sentenced to ten years, and still remains free”, Vuksanovic said.