I am an opponent of any revisionism when it comes to the Second World War, the President of Montenegro, Jakov Milatović, announced today.
He said this in the Government House in Cetinje, at the dialogue forum "Montenegro between historical revisionism and European anti-fascism", which Milatović is organizing with the informal group of Montenegrin intellectuals "STEGA" to mark July 13 - Statehood Day.
"I am glad that we will have the opportunity to discuss anti-fascism. As president, I want to provide bridges to all people and organizations who wish this country well. As someone whose ancestors embedded themselves in the foundations of today's Montenegro through participation in the National Liberation Struggle (NOB) I want to be an affirmer of the anti-fascist movement. I am against any revisionism when it comes to the Second World War," Milatović pointed out.
He added that today anti-fascism is a set of value patterns.
"It is an idea that justifiably opposes intolerance and the desire of individuals to present their position as the only one. I see the attempt at revisionism as an attack on what we should be today," said Milatović.
Lekić: Revisionism and negativism should be distinguished
Demos leader and longtime diplomat Miodrag Lekić said that it is necessary to ask where we come from.
"We are reaching a situation where there is no minimum of spiritual unity in Montenegro. We need to distinguish between revisionism and negativism. Negativism completely denies the facts," said Milatović.
Backović: The Church interfered in state affairs when it influenced the formation of the Government in 2020
Former Minister of Education Slobodan Backović said that something called secularism and civil state is threatened from 2020.
"We need a law on neutrality, according to which religious communities would not have an influence on public space, but the state would also interfere in religious matters. The Church interfered in state matters when it influenced the formation of the Government in 2020. The Director of City Traffic banned the city transportation because of Easter. I only experienced that in Jerusalem on Shabbat. The public service was broadcasting religious ceremonies," Backović pointed out.
He added that all believers are equal before the state, which means that religious affiliation cannot exempt anyone from criminal responsibility.
"The church pays tax on the buildings it rents out, but not on the land and apartments of clerics," said Backović.
Đukanović: The extreme right exists in Montenegro and that is a fact
Associate professor at the University of Donja Gorica, Nikoleta Đukanović, said that it is a fact that there is an extreme right wing in Montenegro.
"We know that in Montenegro the process of party formation is not over, but also that the parliament is fragmented, so we cannot talk about a consolidated democracy. Identity politics still dominate in the region, including in Montenegro, and these policies are the basis of the activities of the parties in the country . The extreme right exists in Montenegro and that is a fact. It is expressed in areas with strong polarization, and our country is like that," said Đukanović.
She said that the ideological confusion is encouraged by the party elites, where we have several variations of the left and the right.
"It is very important that the influence of the holders of key positions in the state leads to the strengthening of the center, because this would lead to the weakening of extremes on both the left and the right, but also to the reduction of polarization," said Đukanović.
Uljarević: Unscientific historical revisionism is politically, party and ideologically colored
The Executive Director of the Center for Civic Education (CGO) Daliborka Uljarević said that unscientific historical revisionism is politically, party and ideologically colored.
"We welcome the forum because it is the first dialogue initiated from the top. Today's Montenegro was actually created on the foundations of the anti-fascist struggle in the Second World War," said Uljarević.
She said that during the research, a large number of students did not know how to list three national heroes, even more three female national heroines.
"And we live in a country where the names of streets, schools and kindergartens have not been changed. Today there is an 'all inclusive' offer on Mamula, and it erases our history. It is irretrievably lost," said Uljarević.
Cerović: Some countries are allowed to "flirt" with the right, but Montenegro is not
Psychologist Radoje Cerović said that some countries are allowed to "flirt" with the right, but Montenegro is not.
"It is the destruction of its psychological foundations. Have you heard that somewhere else religious holidays are celebrated under guns and flags? That is the message that people under that flag are armed. The establishment of hierarchy, the wind where all are equal, but some are more equal, enters the institutions "The right in the Balkans is creating paranoia. Paranoia feeds each other," Cerović said.
Prekić: Fascism is adaptable, it is a fiction that Montenegrin society is pro-Western
Historian Adnan Prekić said that fascism is not the same in 1941 as it is today and that fascism is adaptable.
"The right-wing potential in Montenegro is very strong. I think that it is much broader than one community, that it is multi-confessional. All the research on value attitudes says that it is fluid," said Prekić.
He added that he considers it a fiction that Montenegrin society is pro-Western.
"Montenegro's pro-Western orientation is not constant. I think that Montenegro has a specific relationship to the past. Every generation has a transfer of trauma to their ancestors. Political expression often turns into a struggle for memory and polarization," said Prekić.
Vukanović: the idea of scientific revisionism is to confuse and lead to indecision
Historian Miloš Vukanović said that revisionism is being shown all over the world.
"In the United States of America (USA) when it comes to slavery, in Europe when it comes to the colonial past, and in the region when it comes to nationalism and the view of the past. When Eastern Europe was emerging from communism, Montenegro did not know how to integrate his anti-fascism. The idea of unscientific revisionism is never what was planned - to replace awareness of anti-fascism, but to confuse and lead to indecision," said Vukanović.
Martinović: The president has the responsibility to present a picture - whether Montenegro will independently decide on its own destiny
The director Andro Martinović said that the confrontation of the Germans with the past began immediately after the Second World War.
"Thanks to that, Germany managed to become a leading country in Europe. I believe that the President of Montenegro has the responsibility as the first among equals to offer a picture of what Montenegro should look like - whether it will independently decide on its own destiny," said Martinović.
Šaranović: Before we enter the EU, which is unity in diversity, it is important to connect Montenegrin diversity
University lecturer and project advisor in the field of European Union law, Nikola Šaranović, said that "before Montenegro joins the EU, we need to reach an agreement on Montenegro".
"Just as the signatories of the Maastricht Treaty referred to the humanistic values of Europe, so Montenegro has its own values. Before we enter the EU, which is unity in diversity, it is important to connect Montenegrin diversity," said Šaranović.
Jovović: The people did not get rid of primitivism
The president of Matica Montenegrin Ivan Jovović said that after all the events of the 90s, the strengthening of right-wing movements, Russia's aggression against Ukraine, the question arises as to what is left of the anti-fascism of the 20th century.
"We as a community, as a people, failed to build national institutions. Obviously, even after the restoration of independence, we did not overcome some problems from the 90s. We expected European bureaucrats and technocrats to solve our internal problems," Jovović said.
He said that he believes that after the establishment of universities, academies and all national institutions, the people have not freed themselves from primitivism in all areas.
Tadić-Mijović: Despite all the mistakes of the communists, we cannot question that July 13, 1941 is the foundation of today's Montenegro.
Director of the Center for Investigative Journalism Milka Tadić-Mijović said that despite all the mistakes of the communists, we cannot question that July 13, 1941 is the foundation of today's Montenegro.
"The dialogue we started is perhaps the beginning of something new that we will create," said Tadić-Mijović.
Koprivica: Many fascist views are expressed in the Parliament, but the sentence "My grandfather was a partisan" is added.
The Executive Director of the Center for Democratic Transition (CDT), Dragan Koprivica, said that many predecessors of the President of Montenegro, Jakov Milatović, used anti-fascism, multiculturalism and many other expressions exclusively as post cards.
"Many fascist positions are expressed in the Parliament, but the sentence 'My grandfather was a partisan' is added. I think that for anti-fascism, the attitude towards workers, women, those who left their place of life and came to Montenegro, the LGBT population is very important." said Koprivica.
He added that at the opening of the temple in Podgorica, the partisans were presented as burning in hell.
"History must be read. New methods appear, but science that changes the facts is not acceptable," said Koprivica.
Radulović: July 13 must not be reduced to a folklore celebration
In front of the "STEGA" group, the event was opened by lawyer Branislav Radulović.
He pointed out that it is important to affirm dialogue, constitutional values and constitutional patriotism, the civil character of the state, inclusive and state-forming Montenegrin society, the rule of law, not the right to rule, the dominance of science in relation to dogma, cosmopolitanism.
"Anti-fascism, as a European and universal value, should not be 'reduced' to the folklore commemoration of July 13 and evoking the NOB and the partisan movement," announced Radulović.
He added that "anti-fascism and the symbolism of July 13 are the backbone of statehood and determination for Montenegro, with all its constitutional attributes, to become the first next member of the community of enlightened European nations and states".
Milatović: All nationalism is bad, no matter what sign it has, and the only good thing is constitutional patriotism
Milatović said that today's topic is not only relevant in terms of today's events in Montenegro.
"The fact that we opened it today still shows that Montenegro is taking some steps forward. Regardless of the negativity that we are all aware of. We are not sure that someone could have organized such a meeting a few years ago. You have already mentioned what should be a strategic compromise I see this type of communication as a step in the right direction for Montenegro. I am sure that several participants at this table voted for another president in 2023. For me, the starting point is what is written in the Constitution of Montenegro Worse, and that is that it is an independent, civil, ecological and social justice state," said Milatović.
He added that Nikoleta Đukanović mentioned that Montenegro is still not a consolidated democracy and that insufficiently developed democratic parties are not capable of contributing to that consolidation.
"Montenegro started to live anti-anti-fascism and it seems to me that the changes that the public expected to happen in 2020 did not stop it. I think that the function of the president is very important as someone who must open and affirm this kind of dialogue. Convinced that Montenegro, which on July 13th announced the restoration of its statehood through equality within Yugoslavia, must still cultivate anti-fascism today. If we had political elites that were truly European, we would be part of the EU nationalism is bad, no matter what sign it has, and the only good thing is constitutional patriotism," said Milatović.
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