“‘There are no outstanding issues between Montenegro and the Republic of Macedonia. Relations between the two countries are an example of excellent cooperation in the region,’ Foreign Minister of Montenegro Srdjan Darmanovic and his Macedonian counterpart Nikola Dimitrov agreed at today’s meeting in Skopje. Darmanovic pointed out that one of the priorities of the presidency of the US-Adriatic Charter, which Montenegro takes over from Macedonia on 1 January 2018, will be support for Macedonia’s NATO membership. The ministers concluded that there is room for improvement of economic cooperation, through the announced formation of joint commission for economic cooperation of Montenegro and Macedonia.” (European Western Balkans)

“After 30 years in the U.S., where she raised three children, worked and paid taxes in Sterling Heights, Zahrija Purovic, 50, was put on a plane and sent to Montenegro on Thursday. Despite no criminal record and a pending motion for a stay of removal in federal appeals court, immigration authorities ordered her to pack her belongings, purchase a plane ticket and appear at Detroit Metro Airport…Her lawyer called the deportation nonsensical, and said Purovic has few ties to her native country, having never gone back since moving to the U.S. at age 19. An Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesperson declined to discuss her case.’This is a good example of the nonsensical deportations that we are seeing,’ said Purovic’s attorney, Carrie Pastor. ‘She has no criminal record… she was denied asylum many years ago, but we have no idea why since the court records have been damaged.'” (MLive)

“The Serbian Orthodox church has requested the release of three Serbian citizens accused of taking part in a plot to overthrow the Montenegrin government in return for guarantees that they will not be allowed to leave the country and will be available to attend court summonses. The highly unusual request, which was condemned by the Liberal Party, which forms part of Montenegro’s governing coalition as “scandalous” is just the latest headline to emerge from a court case that has divided the nation and spun a web of intrigue throughout the region. The three Serbians are among 14 people, including two Montenegrin opposition politicians, who were arrested after an alleged coup attempt was foiled by security services in October 2016, on the day of Montenegro’s parliamentary elections. Two Russian military intelligence officers accused of being part of the plot are being tried in absentia. According to prosecutors, the conspirators had planned to recruit a small group of Serbian nationalists, who were to disguise themselves as Montenegrin police and assassinate then Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic and open fire on crowds at the national parliament. The apparent aim of the coup attempt was to put an end to Montenegro’s NATO accession talks by toppling the pro-Western government and replacing it with the pro-Russian opposition. However, just hours before the plan was due to be carried out, Montenegrin police, operating from a tip-off by one of the alleged plotters, arrested the suspects.” (EUOCS)