The Ministry of Transport of Montenegro has dismissed the possibility of Serbia’s involvement in the tender for 30-year concessions of Podgorica and Tivat airports, stating that no official or unofficial initiatives from Serbia were received during the tender process. Statements by Serbian Finance Minister Siniša Mali about Serbia’s interest in the concessions have sparked political debate in Montenegro, where the opposition claims the government is deliberately undermining the tender to create conditions for Serbia’s entry. Serbia, on its part, emphasizes that no formal inquiries have been made and highlights the importance of regional cooperation. The opposition in Montenegro criticizes the process and calls for modernization of the airports and keeping them under state ownership, while the government defends the tender as a transparent process.
Political Perspectives:
Left: Left-leaning sources emphasize the political tensions and criticize the government for potentially undermining transparent tender processes to favor Serbian interests. They highlight concerns about national sovereignty and the importance of keeping strategic infrastructure like airports under state control.
Center: Centrist sources report the facts of the tender process, noting the official statements from Montenegro’s Ministry of Transport and Serbia’s Finance Minister. They present the political debate neutrally, focusing on the procedural aspects and the importance of regional cooperation without taking a strong stance.
Right: Right-leaning sources tend to highlight Serbia’s interest and capability in managing the airports, portraying Serbia as a regional leader with expertise. They may criticize Montenegro’s government for missing an opportunity to cooperate and suggest that Serbia’s involvement could benefit the region’s development.
