Jakov the second time among the Serbs

Despite the convincing defeat of their favorite, part of the political scene in Serbia continues with lamentations about the evil fate of Montenegro, i.e. what is left of it after the victory of Jakov Milatović in the presidential elections.

Actors and arguments are mostly the same. That's why, I believe, there is no need to spend paper and time detailing mostly copy/paste fatalistic warnings like Sodom and Gomorrah waiting for Montenegrins if, after 34 years, they don't elect Milo Đukanović (again, again).

Nevertheless, it is worth asking, precisely because of all the concern of both these and those, what is the situation in the universe better known in these areas as the "Serbian world", and above all whether this (mental) creation has strengthened or perhaps weakened with the victory of Jakov Milatović.

But perhaps before further elaboration, the public, both those for and against Milo Đukanović, should be warned about the point of view of the famous Milorad Vučelić, who, just before the first round of the presidential elections, in his column entitled "Serbian harmony", actually announced a kind of political manifesto of something called the "People's Movement for Serbia". Although no one can unequivocally confirm this, it is assumed that the "People's Movement" actually represents some kind of new, broader form of gathering around the politics of Aleksandar Vučić.

It lists all the main items of the "Serbian world", starting of course from the fact that "we do not agree to the recognition of "independent Kosovo", right at the top is "that we will help the Republika Srpska as much as possible". It goes without saying, of course, that "Serbs should stand their ground and be militarily neutral" and that "we are particularly opposed to the introduction of sanctions against Russia". Vučelić did not fail to emphasize that we should "trust our Serbian Orthodox Church" and "strongly strengthen the Serbian army", and that SANU become one of the "most relevant institutions of culture and science of the Serbian people"...

Vučela does not mention Montenegro by name, neither Montenegrin Serbs nor Montenegrins, but he still sends a clear message. Enumerating the program goals of "Serbian Harmony", he reaches the point that it is obligatory to "keep our holy places and "not give holy places" and, he underlines, "supporting all those who do not give them and did not give them in 2020".

So much for Vuč(el)ić.

There is, in fact, something else. Immediately after the election, Aleksandar Vučić said that Montenegro will always have the hand of Serbia, as well as the newly elected president Jakov Milatović.

- As for Serbia and Montenegro, we will do whatever they want us to do together. Do I have expectations - I don't, do I have hopes - I do - he said and stated that he hopes that Serbia will not be "anti-Serbian" after the fall of Đukanović.

And Jacob? Responding to the barrage of fire that hit him right after the victory, whether he wanted to or not, he had to immediately make a statement about the very issues that the Serbian president has no expectations about but has hopes for.

Of course, first Kosovo.

When asked whether Montenegro's decision to recognize Kosovo's independence will now be withdrawn, Milatović was decisive.

"It is not realistic to expect the recognition of Kosovo and that is a matter that is very clear," said Milatović and added:

"We support everything that Belgrade and Pristina agree on, and I believe that the normalization of relations between Belgrade and Pristina would be significant for all countries in the region. In this sense, Montenegro wants to be a good neighbor, which will somewhere promote good neighborly relations", explained Milatović.

The issue of the "Church of Serbia" did not escape Jakov either.

Avoiding the Scylla and Charybdis of this very sensitive matter, the future president of Montenegro said that the Metropolitanate of the Montenegrin-Limitarian Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) "passed the torture of the Đukanović regime" and that the issue of the church was put 'ad acta', so the state can turn strongly essential topics such as the fight against crime and corruption, the improvement of living standards and the acceleration of European integration.

Srebrenica, for the "Serbian world" one of the watersheds, was no less difficult test for Jakov.

"My position in this sense is very clear, the Montenegrin parliament also passed a resolution when it comes to Srebrenica. It is very important that as a region, together, we make a judgment about the past that was difficult. The past that had one Srebrenica, but and one from Jasenovac, a past that also had things in Montenegro like the big crime in Piva, Velica... These are all things that I clearly condemn," said Milatović.

To summarize the gospel according to Jacob: there is no recognition of Kosovo, but the mutual agreement between Belgrade and Pristina is supported, the SPC is "ad acta", Srebrenica, therefore, but also Jasenovac.

Sic!

Summa summarum, it could be concluded that Jakov Milatović and the "Serbian world" are in a state of relatively stable cohabitation. For now.

Just so we don't forget, and Jakov in particular, what the President of Serbia's motto was, albeit on a different occasion:

"We can't all get everything. That would mean we all lost everything. We can't all lose everything. It is best that we all lose a lot to gain a little because that can be the only winning formula. Anything else is a disaster for all of us.”

Not sure what the message is?

Well, that is precisely the problem with Aleksandar Vučić and the "Serbian world".