Serbia's security service has warned President Aleksandar Vučić about the danger of traveling to Montenegro on Friday for a summit with European Union and Balkan leaders, citing security threats amid diplomatic friction between the two countries. This was reported by Reuters, according to UNN.
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French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen are scheduled to arrive in the coastal town of Tivat on Friday to meet with leaders of the six Western Balkan countries and discuss progress toward EU membership.
Serbia's Security Intelligence Agency (BIA) stated late Wednesday that the trip to Montenegro poses a high security risk for Vučić due to "hostile activities of foreign intelligence services and the presence of a criminal clan there."
Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabić stated that Vučić plans to travel to Tivat despite the warnings and that he will hold several important meetings there.
The warning comes after media in the capital Podgorica reported that on Wednesday, Montenegro turned back a plane carrying 87 men from Serbia that had landed in Tivat, stating they posed a security threat ahead of the EU-Western Balkans summit.
The news portal Vijesti reported that police seized two buses intended to transport the group.
It is noted that relations between Serbia and Montenegro remain tense due to Podgorica's ties with Kosovo, which Serbia does not recognize, as well as Belgrade's influence on domestic political issues through the church and political parties linked to Vučić's Serbian Progressive Party.
Montenegro, a NATO member, gained independence in 2006 following the dissolution of its union with Serbia and, unlike Belgrade, has imposed sanctions against Russia, aligning its foreign policy with the European Union.
On Wednesday evening, Serbia introduced stricter controls at its border with Montenegro, leading to long queues at checkpoints, according to Serbian television channel N1.
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