Podgorica, (MINA) – The relations between Montenegro and Turkey are so strong that no decision or incident can threaten them, said Minister of Foreign Affairs Ervin Ibrahimovic, adding that ministers from the Bosniak Party (BS) did not vote for revoking the visa-free regime for Turkish citizens.

Ibrahimovic said this during the Parliament’s session, responding to a question of Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) MP Ivan Vukovic regarding the Government’s decision to temporary suspend the visa-free regime for citizens of Turkey.

He stated that, according to the official data of that country, almost 250,000 people of Montenegrin origin live in Turkey.

“If we add to that the fact that we are both in NATO, that we are developing relations when it comes to the security of the region, then I believe that as two serious countries we can respond to all the challenges”, Ibrahimovic added.

He said that xenophobia and Islamophobia were witnessed during the incident on Zabjelo on October 26.

“Multi-ethnicity lies in Montenegro’s foundation. Those who do not like such a Montenegro sent a message that night that we are not doing something well, both the government and the opposition, and that those forces that do not tolerate diversity and spread hatred are doing a good job for their own interests”, said Ibrahimovic.

He recalled that two days after the incident he spoke with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, after which he participated in a major global forum in Istanbul.

Ibrahimovic stated that at the meeting with Fidan, both sides sent a message that they were committed to resolving the issue.

“I can share good news that we will solve this problem very quickly. I am optimistic, and I support this optimism on everything I heard during the bilateral meeting in Istanbul”, Ibrahimovic pointed out.

According to him, the Government, and those who want Montenegro’s development, want good relations with Turkey.

Vukovic added that he expects Ibrahimovic to raise the issue of responsibility of people who manipulated the public and escalated tensions, because of whom “someone could lose their life in Montenegro” at the next government session.

“I hope that we will soon have the opportunity to discuss this before the competent parliamentary committee, to see who is to be blamed and who should bear political responsibility”, Vukovic added.