Montenegro's PM humiliated on arrival in Belgrade, Podgorica's opposition says

He tweeted that "the way Krivokapic was greeted in Belgrade says a lot. but I would like to single out two things: that confirms Serbia's arrogant, hegemonic position in the region and confirms that Montenegro should talk to Serbia only as an equal partner whose independent policy Belgrade must accept."

Krivokapic arrived on his first official visit to Serbia and was greeted at the Nikola Tesla Airport in Belgrade by Serbia's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture Branislav Nedimovic, in jeans and without a tie.

Later on Wednesday, in an attempt to iron up a protocol omission during Krivokapic arrival, Serbia's Prime Minister Ana Brnabic attributed it to a well-known disrespect of dress code by Branislav Nedimovic, the Agricultural Minister, who welcomed Montenegrin Prime Minister wearing jeans and no tie. She said he usually did that, but  “without an evil intention.”

Brnabic told reporters after meeting Krivokapic that the plan was for Foreign Minister Nikola Selakovic to greet Krivokapic at the airport, but he was late from Athens.

She did not explain why she wasn’t at the airport to greet her Montenegrin counterpart but said she was to blame for the fault in the protocol.

Commenting on the issue, Krivokapic, said he was welcomed in Belgrade at "the highest possible level with exceptional hospitality".

“Nedimovic was extremely cordial and pleasant, and in that part of the technical reception, I did not care what was he wearing.  I know that maybe represent a certain message in the diplomatic sense. But his words and warm welcome speak more than whether he was wearing jeans,” Krivokapic said.

He started the first visit as Montenegrin premierby laying a wreath in Serbia's Government yard, where the first democratic Prime Minister Zorn Djindjic was assassinated in 2003.

The Montenegrin opposition saw the welcome as humiliation, not for Krivokapic personally, but for the state he represented, Montenegrin Television (RTCG) reported.

Predrag Boškovic, an MP of the Montenegrin Democratic Party, tweeted that "by this act, they showed how they perceive Montenegro and its Prime Minister. "

"The Prime Minister of a NATO member and the first next European Union member state was welcomed in jeans. Let's remember the statement of Serbia's officials after Krivokapic took office: "Lukewarmness cannot hold power".

The dignity of the individual is his thing. The pride of the Prime Minister is a matter of the state," Boris Mugosa, an MP of the Social Democrats of Montenegro, wrote on his Twitter profile.

He added that he did not know the protocol but believed "this was a classic humiliation. Not for him (Krivokapic) but for the state he represents."

Other opposition politicians agreed and even suggested Krivokapic cancel all meetings and return to Montenegro after such a welcome.