Official visit of the Montenegrin Prime Minister Dritan Abazović In Serbia, it could result in the establishment of better relations between Podgorica and Belgrade, between which several open issues have stood in the way in the past few years.
This is the opinion of the interlocutor of "Vijesti" about Abazović's upcoming trip to Belgrade, during which (June 29 and 30) he should meet with the Prime Minister of Serbia Anom Brnabić, the president Aleksandar Vučić and other officials, and to discuss "previously initiated initiatives and topics".
The relations between Montenegro and Serbia, which until a few years ago the officials of the former regime of the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) claimed to be the best in the last two decades, suddenly cooled after the decision of the DPS authorities to adopt the Law on Freedom of Religion at the end of 2019.
Although it was expected that after the fall of the DPS in the elections at the end of August 2020, tensions could calm down, but that did not happen.
The media under the control of the Vučić regime continued their campaign against the new Montenegrin government, especially after the adoption of the Resolution on the Srebrenica genocide in the parliament, while accusations of Serbia's interference in internal affairs increasingly came from Montenegro, primarily from the then opposition.
The fact that Montenegrin MPs are increasingly exposed to harassment at border crossings casts a bad image on relations.
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There were also accusations against Serbia from the ranks of the first government after the DPS, such as that of the former prime minister Zdravka Krivokapića who claimed that Serbia tried to blackmail Montenegro by providing basic foodstuffs, depending on whether it would enter the "Open Balkans" regional initiative.
Abazović will talk to officials in Belgrade about this project, due to which there are serious disagreements in the current government.
Another topic of dispute in the Government, which will certainly be the subject of discussion in the capital of Serbia, is the fundamental contract with the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC), whose signature is awaited.
Abazović announced that there is no planned meeting with the Serbian patriarch in Belgrade Porphyry, but that he would be honored to speak with him if he received such a request.
Editor at TV Vijesti Radomir Krackovic, says that the fact that Abazović's first regional visit follows less than two months after the formation of the Government indicates that there could be a slight thawing of relations between Podgorica and Belgrade.
He states that he sees five open interstate issues.
"The basic agreement, the 'Open Balkans', the question of ambassadors, extradition Svetozar Marović Montenegro and the issue of mistreatment of our MPs on the border with Serbia, which has been happening for months, regardless of whether they voted for the Resolution on the Srebrenica genocide. I expect all these issues to be 'started'", he pointed out for "Vijesti".
Journalist and editor of the show "Pravi uago" on RTV Vojvodina, Ljubica Gojgić, assesses that Abazović's departure to Belgrade could represent the continuation of the establishment of better relations between the two countries.
He believes that potential topics of conversation, including the extradition of Marović, "Open Balkans" and ambassadors, speak in favor of the fact that the meetings with Abazović will not be unpleasant.
"And that there are materials and conditions to actually make a summary at the end of the meetings, which will read - yes, this is a step in the right direction... I think that Abazović will be welcomed more warmly than Krivokapić by the Serbian authorities. I can hardly imagine that someone, like Krivokapić, will meet him in jeans at the airport... Every visit of the Prime Minister of Montenegro to Belgrade, especially with the desire to improve relations, is certainly a good thing," she told "Vijesta".
Abazović announced the visit on June 8 in Ohrid, at the "Open Balkans" summit, after talks with Vučić, and at the invitation of Prime Minister Brnabić, saying that a better time for cooperation between the two countries is coming.
"Open Balkans" and the question of one million euros - Marović's extradition
He supports the "Open Balkans", which was formed in 2019 by Serbia, Albania and North Macedonia, and he attended the summit in Ohrid as an observer.
Reminding that in Montenegro there are reservations about that project, Ljubica Gojgić says that it seems to her that Abazović has changed the narrative that existed regarding the clock.
He emphasizes that the support given to the initiative by the Prime Minister of Montenegro is very important for political Belgrade.
"The President of Serbia is considered the holder of that idea, and I assume that if you want to win his favor, support for the 'Open Balkans' is one of the stories. Although, I would not rule out the possibility that the incentive for clarifying the situation in connection with that initiative came to Abazović from partners from Europe or the USA," she adds.
Kračković says that Abazović is on the same page as Vučić regarding the resolution of the basic contract with the SPC and the "Open Balkans", that he is in favor of signing the basic contract as soon as possible and that he supports the "Open Balkans", but that there are still issues, Marović , ambassadors and mistreatment of MPs, much more difficult to solve.
Marović, a former high-ranking DPS official and former president of the state union of Serbia and Montenegro, signed two plea agreements in which he admitted his involvement in corruption cases, but instead of serving a prison sentence, he fled to Belgrade in 2016. The Serbian authorities refuse to extradite him, even though Montenegro has been asking for it for years. Marović's sentence of three years and nine months expires on October 10, 2026...
While Kračković states that he expects that we will finally get at least some coherent explanation about why Marović is still in Serbia, Ljubica Gojgić says that it is a million euro question.
"It seems to me that in the relations between Belgrade and Podgorica there is one level which is public, and there is another level which is not public and which is more intense, and it was like that even when it seemed that Belgrade and Podgorica were far away. It seems to me that communication at the leadership level existed, that it was very lively and that it is possible that the fate of Marović was also discussed in it. As far as I know, he is not hiding, he lives in the center of Belgrade, without any problems. I assume that this would not be the case if there was no agreement in some zone to keep it that way," she explains.
And ambassadors a stumbling block
The fact that for a long time there has been no Serbian ambassador in Podgorica, and no Montenegrin ambassador in Belgrade, speaks volumes about the current level of relations between the two countries.
The Serbian ambassador has not been in Podgorica since November 2020, when the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Vladimir Božović declared persona non grata because he called the Podgorica Assembly "liberation" and "free will" of the Montenegrin people.
Despite being expelled, Božović from Belgrade still holds the position of ambassador.
On the other hand, Montenegro has been without an ambassador since February 2021, when he is the president of the country Milo Djukanovic issued decrees on the recall of several diplomats, among whom was the former representative in Serbia Tarzan Milosevic.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MVP) sought the impeachment of him and six other ambassadors because, as they claimed in the explanation, they did not work in the interest of the state...
Kračković points out that he believes that, as announced by the Government, Montenegro will soon appoint a new diplomat in Belgrade, but adds that it is difficult to assess what Serbia will do.
"Because they have refused to change the ambassador for almost two years. I believe that such a situation will continue, and I do not expect that Montenegro could eventually withdraw its decision to expel the ambassador".
Ljubica Gojgić states that the topic of ambassadors was not discussed in Serbia. No one, he says, has officially proposed a new candidate for ambassador, nor has he mentioned Božović as an old name.
When it comes to high-level bilateral meetings, as announced on the MFA website, former Prime Minister Krivokapić visited Serbia in November 2021 at the invitation of Brnabić.
Four years earlier, the former prime minister Dusko Markovic he was also in Belgrade.
Before that, in December 2013, he was the then prime minister Milo Djukanovic he visited Serbia, in order to return the visit of his Serbian colleague Ivice Dacic followed in September of the same year.
Will Vučić make a return visit?
Vučić never officially came to Podgorica, while he is the former Montenegrin president Filip Vujanovic was officially in Belgrade in 2014 and 2016.
Asked whether Vučić's arrival in Podgorica could be expected after Abazović's stay in Belgrade, Kračković replied that it was not ruled out.
"It is very unusual that he was not on an official visit, given that he has been in power in Serbia for ten years. He was at the Metropolitan's funeral Amphilochia... If there is a rapprochement in some issues, it is not excluded that Vučić could finally come in the future. However, there are also some difficulties, namely the fact that he is the president of Serbia, so he should be invited by the president of Montenegro Đukanović, with whom he has not been on good terms in the past two years, as he was before. So it can be a brake for a future visit", he concluded.
Đukanović's cabinet did not respond to "Vijesti" about the president's expectations from Abazović's visit.
Božović: The opening of the highway is a good opportunity for Vučić's visit
The visit of the Montenegrin state delegation is a joyful event for all citizens of Serbia, because we do not have close relatives, friends and neighbors to the citizens of Montenegro - Vladimir Božović, who continues to perform his ambassadorial duties from Belgrade, told "News".
He states that young politicians, with new ideas, have an advantage in restoring disturbed relations, because, according to him, they are not and should not be burdened by political legacy.
"There is no reason for the Prime Minister's team not to respond positively to Serbia's stated readiness for a complete reset and significant improvement of those relations."
Božović says that he is closely following all the events in Montenegro and that he sees the big challenges facing Abazović's Government. He believes that a significant improvement in relations with Serbia would be a strong stabilizing factor, and that in the run-up to the tourist season, it would be highly appreciated by the Montenegrin economy and all citizens.
He points out that the "Open Balkans" is a great opportunity for Montenegro, with its natural and human resources and potential, to join and use all the advantages of doing business in a market of more than 13 million people.
"Montenegro needs close to 25.000 workers in the tourist season, and a good part of them could come from Serbia under accelerated procedures... Another very important example concerns the provision of sufficient quantities and priority import of food and the most important foodstuffs. Serbia and its agricultural production have food surpluses, and in the current geopolitical situation, the availability of food becomes the number one imperative for every government. President Vučić's public promise that Montenegro will not lack food is gaining even more importance".
Božović was asked if we should expect any concrete economic results from Abazović's visit, he said that economic and economic cooperation should and must serve the purpose of calming political tensions. He states that he notices "that the young and sometimes disputed Prime Minister Abazović, correctly understanding the current geopolitical and regional moment, and protecting the national and state interests of Montenegro, can significantly amortize completely unnecessary inherited political tensions".
Božović says that the President of Serbia Vučić has always supported and encouraged the building of the best fraternal and friendly, economic, economic and political relations between Serbia and Montenegro, and that he thinks that his visit to Montenegro would be a new impetus and continuity of such policies.
"Many citizens of Montenegro who address the Embassy and me as ambassador highly appreciate and praise such a responsible policy of peace, stability and cooperation, and I am sure that President Vučić would be warmly, brotherly and friendly welcomed. Perhaps the opening of the highway to Serbia is a good opportunity for that, considering how much he advocates for the construction of roads, railways and bridges of friendship that connect Serbia. Of course, that is the matter of our respected host, the glorious and eternal state of Montenegro and its representatives, and my wish as the ambassador of Serbia is that it happens during my mandate".
Krivokapić: I expect an end to Serbia's interference
Minister of Foreign Affairs Ranko Krivokapić told "Vijesta" that he expects Abazović to be welcomed in Belgrade as the Prime Minister of Montenegro deserves.
"So that what happened to Zdravko Krivokapić does not happen again. That must not happen. It will only be a sign that we are ready to talk on an equal basis. I don't expect too much from other contents, but this is not small either. In our relations, which are constantly on the edge, I expect, of course, that Serbia stops interfering in the internal affairs of Montenegro, that the parties function in accordance with the Constitution of Montenegro, without what must not come from the outside, across the border. That the atmosphere would be better, so that they could move on. Now the atmosphere is such that there can be no real progress in relations".
The secretary of the National Security Council is also traveling, she expressed her desire to be part of the delegation
Apart from the Prime Minister, the Government delegation will consist of Charge d'Affaires at the Embassy of Montenegro in Serbia Ana Ražnatović, Counselor at the Embassy Milena Marković, Deputy Prime Minister Vladimir Joković, Minister of Finance Aleksandar Damjanović and Minister of Ecology, Spatial Planning and Urbanism Ana Novaković Đurović.
The prime minister's chief of staff Ana Rašović, advisors Đorđe Radulović (for foreign policy), Ivo Šoć (for legal issues), Miloš Perišić (for media) and Radivoje Koprivica (for digital media) will also go to Belgrade.
The delegation will also include the secretary of the National Security Council, Jelena Maraš.
"News" from Abazović's cabinet did not answer on what basis the secretary of the Council is a member of the delegation and whether it is planned for her to have special meetings in that capacity with representatives of related institutions in Serbia.
List was only told unofficially that she expressed her desire to be part of the delegation.
Opposition without expectations
The parties have different views on the Prime Minister's departure to Belgrade.
Democrats said that the fact that there was no return visit by the Prime Minister of Serbia after Krivokapić's visit, indicates that this is "more of a private visit to a friend and comrade of Abazović, than a visit to a friendly country and the people of Serbia."
"Consequently, we do not expect anything at the state level... However, in the event that Marović returns with him, we will be able to consider that we have the results of the visit. Otherwise, in the most likely scenario, we will have to experience it as an inter-party meeting and repayment of debts to the three regional leaders who helped Abazović form the government with the DPS. Also, we expect Abazović to send a warm greeting to the New Serbian Democracy and praise for the formation of a post-election coalition with DPS at the official press conference with Vučić.
The Social Democrats (SD) assessed that the delegation of "an incredible 12 members looks more like an excursion than a state visit".
"So the Government, which builds its PR on the story of rational spending, on a visit to neighboring Serbia led by the Prime Minister, sends three ministers, the head of the Cabinet of the Prime Minister, an incredible two advisers for the media - one of which is for the media in general, and the other for digital media - advisor for legal issues, and even the secretary of the National Security Council, along with members of the Embassy. Such a composition of the delegation, along with the fact that this is the next visit to Serbia with only one recent visit from Serbia, although diplomacy requires return visits, clearly speaks of the condescending attitude of this Government towards our neighbor".
Member of Parliament of the Socialist People's Party (SNP), Milosava Paunović, said that she expects the improvement of bilateral, economic and political relations with Serbia.
"Regardless of the visit, I expect the fundamental agreement to be signed with the SOC and for Montenegro to join the 'Open Balkans' initiative, which would be the first step towards the EU for all of us".
The spokesman of the Bosniak Party (BS), Adel Omeragić, said that Montenegro wants the best relations with its neighbors, especially with Serbia, and that he expects numerous topics to be raised in Belgrade.
"Certainly, Serbia's treatment of our MPs at border crossings should be one of the main topics, and that after that this humiliating attitude towards our country should finally stop. Therefore, I expect that the prime minister will raise the issue and that we finally get a clear position on why someone is marking deputies who are a sign of freedom of speech and independent action in a democratic society. Deputy Prime Minister Ervin Ibrahimović raised the issue at the last session and made it clear that he hoped the visit would improve bilateral relations. Otherwise, they will ask for reciprocity".
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