Genocide still remained on the tip of the tongue

The Government of Montenegro announced that it respects the decisions of all international institutions when it comes to war crimes, and its Prime Minister Zdravko Krivokapić, as well as the Minister of Justice, Human and Minority Rights Vladimir Leposavic, did not hint that Leposavic's position would be called into question after the controversial statement about the genocide in Srebrenica and the reactions of the international and domestic public about the country's further foreign policy course.

Instead, the Government and the minister pointed to the former government's attempt to manipulate issues that divide citizens and reiterated that they sympathize with all victims of crime.

"The Government of Gora neither wants nor can change the decisions of international courts, nor declare some peoples genocidal and others holy, because this is contrary to the principle that every crime is individual, that it has specific perpetrators and, unfortunately, specific victims, and that for such specific individuals are always responsible for crimes....We condemn all crimes committed by anyone and we stand in solidarity with the families of all victims of any crime", the Government announced yesterday.

In a special address, the minister states that his words were twisted in the Assembly and that this proves the intention of those who do it.

"Some have proven that they persistently ignore the right to equality, even for victims, others try to hide their criminal past, and still others are post-war profiteers. All of them are united by the fact that they did not contribute to the reconciliation of the people. That is why today it is clear to everyone that they are not asking for my resignation because of Montenegrin Bosniaks and Muslims, but because of Montenegrin crime. That's why they won't even get it from me," he said.

The reactions of the minister and the executive power came after the influential embassies in Podgorica expressed their expectation that the minister's speech in the parliament on Friday would be clarified, when he said that he did not dispute the legal validity of the decisions of international bodies, but also that the decision of the international court on the genocide in Srebrenica based on the position of the Hague Tribunal, which was compromised because it concealed evidence of crimes against Serbs in Kosovo. The minister said that he bows to the victims of Srebrenica, but also that he is ready to admit the crime committed when it is unequivocally established.

The US Embassy expressed concern over comments on the events in Srebrenica in 1995 and requested clarity and unequivocal condemnation of the genocide from the executive branch.

Great Britain's ambassadors in Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, Karen Maddox and Matt Field, announced in a joint statement that the genocide is unquestionable and that the facts have been proven before two international courts.

"We can move forward only with the recognition and respect of the past," they stated. Yesterday, German Ambassador Robert Weber also reacted, pointing to the painful experience of his country during the Second World War, which, he said, was caused by totalitarianism: "You have to admit to yourself the truth, admit guilt - don't deny it", said the ambassador.

Leposavic announced yesterday that a campaign was launched against him and that it was not true that he relativized or denied the crime:

"...Neither personally nor as a public official did I deny the crime of genocide in Srebrenica... I clearly emphasized that I do not challenge the legal obligation of the decisions of international organizations and courts".

He repeated that by asking whether he recognizes the crime of genocide, "the people who are also victims, and with whom they supposedly want to achieve reconciliation, are being bullied."

"Every lawyer and even an educated person knows that only the perpetrator can confess to a crime, especially genocide. Asking any person, including a minister, to confess to a criminal offense in which he was not, nor could have participated, represents only evil intent. Responsibility for criminal acts is always individual. Since it is known that the individual, from whom such recognition is demanded, could not even have been a participant in the crime, then it is clear that this is intended to collectivize guilt, which is only an occasion for new conflicts and their constant maintenance, so that, in the final , as it has been done until now, profited from the same conflicts", the minister stated in the statement.

He explains that in connection with this case "there are still ongoing and new court proceedings may be conducted", that in some of them "the epic poetry of a writer from the 19th century was also used as evidence", and that is why he cannot give "unconditional confessions about events from these proceedings".

"It was left to the new government and me to fight for the recovery of the robbed and quarrelsome Montenegrin society, which was brought to the brink of moral collapse. Thus, after 20 years, those who, by their own admission and by the admission of others, participated in the same are asking the Minister of Justice to confess to war crimes. Although I expressed my views without the intention of denying or diminishing the scope and consequences of the massacre in Srebrenica, I regret that I did not do so in such a way that none of my fellow citizens of the Islamic religion were harmed. I will continue to fight for what I believe in - that every life and everyone's suffering is respected equally, so that no one's sacrifices are in vain, but become an eternal memory and warning so that no one in this region is persecuted on religious or national grounds." states the minister.

The Center for Civic Education assesses that Leposavic, with his, as they claim, answer to the parliamentary question made sense of Montenegro's obligation to respect international court decisions and binding international documents, and caused damage to multi-ethnic harmony, the process of transitional justice and reconciliation, and fueled the heated atmosphere in Montenegrin society.

The Democratic Party of Socialists and its partners repeated the request for the dismissal of the minister.

"Given that... for the second time, he refused to recognize the verdict of the International Tribunal for War Crimes... let's publicly call on the Prime Minister to dismiss the mentioned minister as soon as possible, which would be in the best interest of the citizens and the state," it says. in a joint statement by DPS, Social Democrats, Bosniak Party, Liberal Party and four Albanian parties.

Citizens' Union CIVIS drew the Prime Minister's attention, as they stated, that in the future they will not tolerate the violation of the Agreement, which forms the basis of the cooperation of the three coalitions that formed the Government:

"Abandoning the principle signed by the three leaders after the election ultimately means that, if it continues, the Government of Montenegro would lose the support of CIVIS". Harsh reactions to the minister's statement followed his answer to the parliamentary question of Andrija Nikolić (DPS) about whether Leposavic is ready to recognize the genocide in Srebrenica. Yesterday, his colleague Dragutin Papović asked the Minister of Education Vesna Bratić the same question, but she said that it was a populist question and that she would not answer.

Weber: You are called to recognize the truth and to seek and enable reconciliation

"Recent events such as the controversial attempts to name streets, the desecration of mosques ("Nikšić will be Srebrenica") and the relativization of the genocide in Srebrenica, worry me more and more about the direction in which Montenegro is currently moving as a country and society. The growing political polarization, the increasing willingness to use violence against political dissidents and media representatives, are undermining the civil multi-ethnic character of the country. When I express deep concern, I do so not from a high moral point, but as a representative of my country, which caused the catastrophe of the Second World War and the Holocaust with totalitarianism, nationalism and racial hatred and which took the greatest moral blame upon itself.

Admitting guilt has never been easy, but it is owed to the victims and the truth. And only by admitting guilt can the door to a better future be opened for forgiveness and reconciliation. In order to be able to shape your own future freely and unencumbered, you should not deceive yourself. You have to admit the truth to yourself, admit guilt - not deny it. This creates a basis for reconciliation with neighbors, but also for healing cracks in one's own society. You are all invited to recognize the truth and to seek and facilitate reconciliation in order to pave the way for a better future", stated the statement of the Ambassador of FR Germany, Robert Weber.

The government calls for an end to manipulation of victims

"The government respects the continuity of international obligations of Montenegro, as well as the decisions of all international institutions. Also, the Government respects the Declaration on the acceptance of the resolution of the European Parliament adopted by the Parliament of Montenegro in 2009, which condemns the crime of genocide in Srebrenica committed in 1995, as well as all other war crimes committed during the conflict in the territories of the former Yugoslavia", announced the Government.

It is added that the Prime Minister, along with the Minister of Justice and other members of the Government, express deep respect for all the victims of the wars in the territory of the former Yugoslavia and call for an end to all kinds of politicking and manipulation of the victims.

"Reconciliation between the peoples and states of the region is of utmost importance for the Government. The current Montenegrin Government was elected after the democratic victory of the citizens and their will for Montenegro to be free and equal, not captive and private, to be a legal state in which laws rule, not individuals, and to resolutely embark on the path of changes in society in favor of reconciliation and real equality of all peoples, religions and identities", states the Government.