The President of Montenegro, Milo Đukanović, said that the story that the President of Serbia, Aleksandat Vučić, was "pressured" to recognize the independence of Kosovo, was "a spin of the Belgrade media in order to score political points at home."
"That is an exaggerated story. They are supposedly fighting to return Kosovo. And there would be no greater punishment for Serbia than if someone returned it to them. They want Kosovo, but without the Albanians. Just as they want Montenegro, but without the Montenegrins. It is obvious that for Belgrade, Montenegro would be the only real compensation for Kosovo. Vučić often criticizes the former government in Serbia for "letting Montenegro go" in 2006. As if it was part of Serbia. Remember what Darko Hudelist writes about Vučić and his suffering the day after the Montenegrin referendum, in what state he found him in his house. "It was an event with which the declared Serbian nationalist Vučić could not come to terms with," said Đukanović in an interview with Jutarnji list.
He also said that new elections in Montenegro are a realistic option.
"Montenegro must get a nationally responsible government as soon as possible. Which party and which people will form it will be decided by the citizens in the elections. As painful as this one-year experience may seem, it is also useful in a way. People in Montenegro now have a clearer idea of what is an offer on the political scene of our country. Even when they are rightfully angry with the previous government, they will now more realistically evaluate the capacities of the alternative. And, I believe, forever reject pathological hatred as a driver of change. Hatred and complexes lead nowhere. It is not born from that nothing good neither for the state nor for the citizens. Voters will punish the politically insane ideas of relativizing Montenegrin anti-fascism as the most striking link in Montenegrin's thousand-year history. As well as serving other people's interests instead of their own national interests," said Đukanović.
When asked if the "helicopter" enthronement of Metropolitan Joaniki in Cetinje is actually, as some think, the beginning of the final "reckoning" of those forces who want to dethrone Montenegro and include it in the so-called "Serbian world" and those who want to preserve its statehood and national identity, Đukanović replied:
"The enthronement of Joaniki, Metropolitan of the Airborne-Helicopter Church of Serbia, is one in a multi-year series of episodes of the renewed offensive of Great Serbian nationalism in Montenegro. And everything is in accordance with the constant strategy of Garašanin's Načertani since the middle of the 19th century. Although this phase of anti-Montenegrin aggression is also based on with the same, false premise of denying the Montenegrin national, cultural and religious identity, thus logically the need for an independent Montenegro, the priority target is actually the civil and secular character of our country and its European and Euro-Atlantic orientation. , is brazenly trying to impose an image of Montenegro as another Serbian state, which achieved independence due to the mistake and carelessness of the former Belgrade state leadership. And now that "mistake" is being tried to be corrected by the militant-political action of the remaining cross-border infrastructure of the great Serbia - the Church of Serbia, the quasi-religious community responsible for most of the crimes committed by that nationalist project from the 90s until today. The initial successes gave wings to that retrograde clero-fascist menagerie: political processions, with the thunderous support of official Belgrade, managed to present themselves as a defense of endangered holy places and religious rights; the theocratic government of Montenegro, anti-Montenegrin and Quislin, is in the service of making their country weak, which by conquering Cetinje they want to symbolically bring to its knees and humiliate it, as a province preparing for life in the projected "Serbian world", which is a euphemism for Greater Serbia. It will turn out, I believe, that this is the beginning of the end of that dirty fraud which, by falsely pretending about the allegedly threatened rights of the Serbs in the region, just like in the early 90s, managed to paralyze the attention of European, Western politics, since at the same time the platform of hybrid war is being implemented Russia against Europe and NATO in the Western Balkans".
Did the events in Cetinje show that Montenegro is walking on the edge of possible conflicts and even civil war, as some think, and at one time you also said that Montenegrins, if necessary, would go "into the forest"?
"I'm afraid you're right. There are not a small number of those who would like to push Montenegro into civil conflicts. But we preserved the peace and strengthened multi-ethnic harmony in much more challenging times: during the bloody breakup of Yugoslavia, in the NATO campaign in the FRY in 1999, in the preparation and holding of the referendum in 2006, in the coup attempt in 2016. We will succeed this time as well. I once figuratively said that we would defend Montenegro if necessary by going to the forest. After the latest events in Cetinje, I stand even more firmly behind those words." .
Is what happened at Cetinje a victory for the pro-Serbian forces, as some say, or a confirmation of their strength and power?
"I called the government's action in Cetinje a Pyrrhic victory already in the first reaction after the shameful attack and chemical war, unprecedented in this area, against the bare-handed citizens gathered at the peaceful protests in Cetinje. The unfortunate government, in fact, is a simple toy in the hands of Belgrade's state, church and parastatal structures , as they are again in the hands of Moscow, was ready to shed blood that day in Cetinje, only to accuse the Montenegrin patriots, and ultimately me, of their iniquities. current authorities. I'm sure this is the beginning of their precipitous fall".
Why do you think that the Montenegrin government and the SPC insisted that, despite the tensions and the possible escalation of the conflict, the enthronement should take place in Cetinje?
"The line of command of the offensive on Cetinje and Montenegro is, at least today, probably obvious. The Government of Montenegro is a service of the Church of Serbia, which is an instrument for the realization of the Greater Serbia project, which is the official state policy of Belgrade. And Serbia is a political-security and informational base for the realization of Russian geopolitical interests in the Balkans. It's a good thing that their intelligence is not a virtue, so they couldn't resist bragging about their role in that stupid operation in Cetinje. It's as if we taught them how to be tough. After all, you saw that race in to the self-promotion of President Vučić and the spokeswoman of the Russian MFA Zaharova. Why did they do it? Always for the same reason: to bring Montenegro under their control at any cost, including war. Serbia because it thinks it's time for a new attempt to redraw the borders in the Balkans, and Russia to send a message to NATO, the EU and the countries in the region. They believed that it would end after last year's elections and the installation of their government in our country. They failed, despite a huge effort. Just remember the political and media antics - the battle for Nikšić, made official in the regime media of Belgrade, and that on the occasion of the local elections in that city. It won't work now either. On the contrary, they ruled against the clero-nationalist Serbian metropolitan in Cetinje. The witty citizens of Cetinje immediately said of Ioanniki that, even though he was the second traitor in our history with that name, he was the first "delivered" metropolitan. And the government was only there in the role of service company Glovo. Not only delivered, but also the bloody metropolitan. Porfirije, the first man of the Church of Serbia, was also involved in that dishonorable work, marked with that mark, which he will never be able to remove, until he apologizes to Montenegro and Montenegrins.
How threatened is the existence of the Montenegrin state and nation, whose separate ethnic and church identity is contested, and what are the reasons for this?
"The civil and secular character of the state of Montenegro and its European perspective have been seriously attacked, and thus the very survival of the state. Because Montenegro cannot survive except as a civil state. As expected, Montenegrin national identity was first questioned. Because, if there are no Montenegrins, there is no need for an independent Montenegro. And, as you know, according to that insane theory, Muslims are an invented people. And the Albanians will probably manage somehow in the redistribution among enlarged, ethnically and religiously homogeneous states. The reason is simple: without Montenegro in To the "Serbian world" the project of Greater Serbia is dead forever. We will make sure it stays that way."
It is often mentioned that Russia is behind this policy of destabilization of Montenegro, i.e. that everything is happening in the quadrangle of the SPC-Vučić-Kremlin-Montenegro government. What do you think about that?
"I have already said. This is not a church but a state political issue. That is why the Church of Serbia is not a subject but an instrument. And the government of Montenegro is not a state body but the administration of a quasi-religious community. That is why this is a Serbian-Russian project. We are currently experiencing the most aggressive attack of Great Serbian nationalism on Montenegrin state and Montenegrin identity in our recent history. This was not the case even during the time of Milošević. Then we had significant support from the democratic opposition in Serbia for our democratic project. And today both the government and the opposition in Belgrade, their media, cultural, scientific and business circles. All, except honorable individuals who boldly point out the perniciousness of Serbia's official policy for Serbian society, but also for the region as a whole. With such a policy, Serbia has deepened enmity with Croats, Bosniaks, Albanians. It was Montenegrins' turn."
The pro-Kremlin media equated the protest in Cetinje with the Ukrainian Maidan and even spoke of a "coup".
"I'm sure they know best where and what Moscow's fingers are involved in".
Of course, there is also the question of the role and behavior of the SPC, especially the Montenegrin Littoral Metropolitanate in the politics of the "Serbian world", is the SPC an instrument or the initiator of that policy? Many in Podgorica claim that the SPC is the ideological and political mentor of the current Montenegrin government and Prime Minister Zdravko Krivokapić.
"I have already said a lot about the role of the Church of Serbia. And even the sparrows on the branch know about the government and Prime Minister Krivokapić. Unfortunately, he does not behave like a prime minister. It is most accurate to say that he does nothing but serve, smoke and hangs out with pops when they let him.
I am particularly interested in whether you have heard from Aleksandar Vučić these days and what is your opinion about his behavior, given that it is said that you have good personal relations.
"No, why should I hear from him. We had constructive relations for a period, and that was in the interest of both Serbia and Montenegro. Of course, I do not take seriously his insincere messages that he recognizes the independence of Montenegro and that he wants fraternal and friendly relations, while his ministers openly say why the "Serbian world", i.e. Greater Serbia, is the necessity of the Serbian people in the region whose self-proclaimed protector is the state of Serbia. The seriousness of Vučić's statements is best evidenced by the claim that Montenegro has subdued Serbia for the past 30 years and that it will not to succeed. It is the same as Hitler declaring in 1939 that he would not allow Czechoslovakia to conquer Germany. And only the claim that we secretly want to restore the CPC. Well, could it have been more open and direct than we announced. And, of course, we will restore it as its historical unquestionable right. In a much more civilized way than it was abolished by Belgrade, when independent Montenegro at the end of the second decade of the last century. The fact that Vučić is talking about cleaning Belgrade of Montenegrins is nothing new in the history of our relations either. At the end of the 19th century, during the government of Vladan Đorđević, Montenegrins and Gypsies were prohibited from entering Serbia".
Does all this mean that Vučić has "returned" to Slobodan Milošević's memorandum policy through which he wants to "annex" Montenegro, how dangerous is that for our entire region and what geostrategic games are being played there?
"Yes, with the fact that he believes that he has surpassed Milosevic and that he is able to achieve everything that Milošević was unable to do. That is why I believe that the peace and stability of the region are in danger, just like in the 90s. Because the same idea is at work . And the same stupidly false alibi - protecting the endangered rights of Serbs in the region. I think it's high time to wake up all healthy forces in the region, but also the international community, the EU and America above all. Before it's too late."
Some Montenegrin analysts say that you are a personal "target" of the new authorities in Montenegro, so they also mentioned your possible arrest.
"Well, it's more than clear, you don't have to be an analyst to see it. The government "ordained" in the monastery of Ostro has no other policy than being obsessed with denying and dismantling everything that Montenegro has achieved in the previous decades. Under the guise of a thunderous fight against crime and corruption, in which, according to their own public admission, the arrest warrants are written by the president and vice-president of the government, and not by the prosecutors, they are actually trying to break and finish off all the economic, cultural and institutional strongholds of Montenegrin sovereignty. Because that is their mission. Logically, all of this is accompanied by complex revanchism towards all people, both in the administration and towards businessmen and foreign investors who contributed to the significant successes of Montenegro in the period after 1996.
Vučić was pressured to recognize Kosovo's independence, so do you think that Montenegro can be Serbia's "compensation" for Kosovo?
"I wouldn't really say that he was pressured. From whom? That story is also a spin of the Belgrade media in order to gain political points on the domestic ground so that Vučić can show how strongly he resists strong international centers. It is an exaggerated story. They are supposedly fighting to return Kosovo. And there would be no greater punishment for Serbia than if someone returned it to them. They would have Kosovo, but without the Albanians. Just as they would have Montenegro, but without the Montenegrins. It is obvious that for Belgrade, Montenegro would be the only real compensation for Kosovo. Vučić often criticizes the former government in Serbia for "letting Montenegro go" in 2006. As if it was part of Serbia. Remember what Darko Hudelist writes about Vučić and his suffering the day after the Montenegrin referendum, in what condition he found him in "It was an event that Vučić, a declared Serbian nationalist, could not come to terms with," he concludes.
I mentioned the lukewarm reaction of Brussels, and NATO, to the events in Montenegro. Why do you think it is like that and how satisfied are you with the reaction of the neighboring countries, especially Croatia, which also, it seems to me, has been restrained in its reactions so far?
"It just shows the state Europe and the world are in. The Western Balkans are also beyond their attention, not only Montenegro. They have many of their own problems. I would say that the situation in the international community is much worse than in the 90s. As far as Croatia is concerned, we are encouraged by the proactive attitude of the president, other officials and many prominent figures of political and public life in Croatia, which, we hope, will influence international partners to pay more serious attention to the reflections of the situation in Montenegro on the region and Europe. in the return visit to Croatia, which will be an opportunity to exchange opinions with the state leadership in Zagreb on all important topics, including this one".
It is tense in Montenegro, so it is said that it could spread to other countries in the region, first of all to BiH, which is also part of the plans of the "Serbian world". Is it possible to repeat, at least in part, the already seen scenarios from the 90s?
"It is not only possible, but realistic. Well, how did everything start in the 90s? Wasn't Bosnia and Herzegovina divided and planned for liquidation on a napkin from Karađorđe? How could any large-scale state project in our region be realized and Bosnia and Herzegovina survive ?And how could it happen without war and bloodshed?
Are new elections possible in Montenegro?
"Yes, that is a very realistic option. Montenegro must get a nationally responsible government as soon as possible. Which party and which people will form it will be decided by the citizens in the elections. As painful as this one-year experience may seem, it is also useful in some way. People in Montenegro, they now have a clearer idea of what is on offer on the political scene of our country. Even when they are rightfully angry with the previous government, they will now more realistically assess the capacities of alternatives. And, I believe, forever reject pathological hatred as a driver of change. Hate and complexes do not they lead nowhere. Nothing good is born from this, neither for the state nor for the citizens. Voters will punish the politically insane ideas of relativizing Montenegrin anti-fascism as the most striking link of Montenegrin's thousand-year history. As well as serving other people's interests instead of their own national interests."
What can be expected next, because it is obvious that neither side intends to give in, and to what limits or repercussions can this go? In your opinion, how far is Vučić and those who support or encourage him ready to go, especially if he feels that he cannot achieve his plans, that is, is Vučić ready to destabilize the entire region?
"Yes, if Europe and America allow him to do so. If the numerous lobbyists he pays continue to influence the politics of the most important Western centers as much as before."
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