Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic said on Wednesday that the behavior of the Montenegrin authorities leads to conflicts, adding that conflict or cooperation is the fundamental issue in relations between the two countries.

Commenting on the Montenegrin government’s decision not to open its border towards Serbia on TV Prva, the foreign minister said that means fewer tourists from Serbia on the Montenegrin coast. He added that the ban on Air Montenegro flights to the Serbian capital, Dacic said that is not a foreign policy issue. “It has nothing to do with a political decision. If our airline can’t fly there, of course, reciprocal measures are implemented,” he said.  

 Dacic said that Montenegrin officials were schooled in Serbia but did things against Serbia such as recognizing the independence of Kosovo. Asked if Serbia can protect Serbian Orthodox Church holy sites in Montenegro, Dacic said it can’t but can provide aid to the Serb people and church there.

Montenegro Airlines said in a statement that the Serbia and Montenegro Air Traffic Services (SMATSA) informed the airline that its landing privileges at Belgrade’s Nikola Tesla airport have been suspended. Podgorica daily Vijesti was told by sources in the Montenegrin government that no ban on Air Serbia had been imposed. “Despite this surprising decision, Serbia certainly remains part of our flight plans and we will try to help deal with the consequences of COVID-19,” Air Montenegro said.