EC: Shinawatra affair won't affect Montenegrin integration

Podgorica has told EU officials it issued ex-Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra a passport before an Interpol warrant was issued for his arrest, says a top EC official. “From what we can gather, when this decision was taken, the former Thai premier was not on any kind of black list, particularly not on Interpol’s,” EC Director for the Western Balkans Pierre Mirel told Podgorica daily Vijesti. EC: Shinawatra affair won't affect Montenegrin integration According to Mirel, if “someone isn’t on any lack list,” particularly not Interpol’s, “any country is entitled to issue a passport to sportsmen or anyone else, for national interests.” The EC official said that the matter would not have any bearing on the visa liberalization process. Podgorica weekly Monitor reported yesterday that Montenegrin officials had told EU representatives that Shinawatra had received a Montenegrin passport prior to appearing on the Interpol list. However, it added that the application was approved on January 14, once he had already been accused of corruption in his own country. Under Montenegrin law, convicted criminals cannot receive citizenship. Media in Podgorica state that Montenegro elected to give the former Thai prime minister a passport as he was planning to buy the island of St. Nikola, formerly owned by Serbian crime boss Stanko Subotic. Prva Bank, owned by Montenegrin Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic’s family, has already tried to sell the island unsuccessfully on three occasions, after Subotic was unable to repay the loan he took out to buy it. Media add that Shinawatra is also looking to buy the island of St. Stefan from a Singaporean company, which has been running the island and its beaches at Milocer for three years, but which are closed because the Singaporeans cannot afford to adapt the property.

EC: Shinawatra affair won't affect Montenegrin integration

According to Mirel, if “someone isn’t on any lack list,” particularly not Interpol’s, “any country is entitled to issue a passport to sportsmen or anyone else, for national interests.”

The EC official said that the matter would not have any bearing on the visa liberalization process.

Podgorica weekly Monitor reported yesterday that Montenegrin officials had told EU representatives that Shinawatra had received a Montenegrin passport prior to appearing on the Interpol list.

However, it added that the application was approved on January 14, once he had already been accused of corruption in his own country. Under Montenegrin law, convicted criminals cannot receive citizenship.

Media in Podgorica state that Montenegro elected to give the former Thai prime minister a passport as he was planning to buy the island of St. Nikola, formerly owned by Serbian crime boss Stanko Subotić.

Prva Bank, owned by Montenegrin Prime Minister Milo Đukanović’s family, has already tried to sell the island unsuccessfully on three occasions, after Subotić was unable to repay the loan he took out to buy it.

Media add that Shinawatra is also looking to buy the island of St. Stefan from a Singaporean company, which has been running the island and its beaches at Miločer for three years, but which are closed because the Singaporeans cannot afford to adapt the property.