Montenegro's Djukanovic Opts for Business Career

"I've achieved all the political goals I had," Djukanovic said in an interview for Al Jazeera Balkans on Friday, admitting that after years of political activity, he had become a professional politician.

He will continue to practice politics through his chairmanship of the ruling Democratic Party of Socialists, DPS, but the rest of his time he plans to devote to business.

As the longest standing Montenegrin leader in recent history, Djukanovic held executive power in the country for almost two decades. Djukanovic served three consecutive terms as prime minister from 1991 to 1998. He was then president of Montenegro from 1998 to 2002 and prime minister again from 2002 to 2006, when he decided to step down. He returned as Prime Minister in February 2008, remaining in office until December 21, 2010.

Reflecting on Montenegrin politics today, Djukanovic said that it would be beneficial for both Montenegro and the DPS if the opposition tried to solve its own problems, rather than be trapped by the animosity it feels toward the governing party.

Although he was recently criticised for Euro-scepticism, a pro-European tone prevailed in the interview. He also expressed support for the EU candidate status that Serbia hopes to obtain shortly, arguing that any delay in Serbia's European integration is negative for the whole region.