And taxes, and laws, and the flag: What is the state, what are its obligations and the obligations of citizens, every day and not only on July 13

The state is both the flag and the anthem, but they are only a fragment of its essence, which should be reflected in professional institutions, quality services and good public policies, but also in the obligations of citizens such as respecting the law, paying taxes and respecting the rights of others.

With these words, the interlocutors of "Vijesti", on the occasion of July 13 - the Statehood Day of Montenegro, answer the questions - what is the state for them and what are its obligations towards citizens, that is, what are theirs towards it.

There is no consensus in Montenegro about whose duties are greater, as well as about many other important topics. While some are guided by the famous catchphrase of the former president of the USA John Kennedy - that you should not ask what the country can do for you, but what you can do for it, others say that the obligations of the state are far greater and that it must deserve the respect of citizens.

Such polemics are much less on the occasion of July 13, which, unlike the other national holiday, May 21 - Independence Day, is respected by all political actors.

Montenegro celebrates July 13 in memory of that date in 1878, when it was recognized as an independent state at the Berlin Congress, and the same date in 1941, when the popular uprising against fascism began.

INSTITUTIONS AND SYMBOLS

Member of Parliament and vice-president of the opposition Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) Ivan Vukovic, states for "Vijesti" that for him the state, and while, he says, until May 2006 he hoped for it, both before and after politics, was, is and will be one and the same - a privilege to, within the social community to which he belongs, decides freely and independently about his fate, i.e. "to be 'one's own'".

The sense of obligation to the country that arises from that fact, he says, further strengthens the awareness that the country has been waiting for almost a whole century and that the previous generations made the greatest sacrifices so that today's could choose their own path.

"That's why, first as a citizen, and then as a university professor and politician, I try to make even a modest contribution to the overall progress of Montenegro," said Vuković.

Montenegro restored its statehood 18 years ago, at the referendum held on May 21, 2006, for which, according to the opinion of a part of the public, DPS was the most deserving. However, that party has been the target of criticism for years, both from Montenegro and from international institutions and organizations, due to abuses during its three-decade rule, which ended in August 2020. It is criticized that its highest officials used the restoration of Montenegro's independence for enrichment, "hiding" behind the state and its symbols.

Asked why the state is much more than its symbols, Vuković replied that the state is the flag and the anthem, both in Montenegro and everywhere in the world, but that in Montenegro there are "continuous and supposedly highly intellectual attempts by some public officials to empty the concept of the state" ' and that the 'story about the flag and the anthem' turns into a peculiar parody".

"That is, to make the display of respect and love for the state through the proud display of its symbols morally suspect, almost shameful. 'Patriotism is paying taxes, not waving the flag' - is one of the most frequently repeated 'words' of that kind...", he adds.

His colleague from the parliament, vice president of the ruling Democratic People's Party (DNP) Maja Vukićević, assesses for "Vijesti" that the state, before and after everything, from any position and from anyone's point of view - is the home of all its citizens.

He says that the state is certainly more than a symbol, on which it builds recognition in the world, and depicts belonging and cohesion within the community.

"But all these symbols are, in fact, a statement and a reflection of each individual, the state's relationship with him and his relationship with the state, and in that sense I think that perhaps in the past we lacked dialogue and a broader social consensus when it comes to this, so that each citizen had the same feeling towards the symbols", states Vukićević, whose party is advocating the change of state symbols, demanding that the tricolor be the national flag.

It is important, she says, to say that the state is not a party, as, according to her, it used to be said and that the sign of equality was often placed between them. Based on that, he adds, some citizens had a positive or negative attitude towards the state.

"Political representatives are there by the will of the people who trusted them, but we are obliged to equally protect the interests of the state and all citizens, regardless of whether they voted for our political option," said the interviewee.

For the Secretary General of the Montenegrin Association of Employers (CUP) and a former minister and deputy Raško Konjevića, the state to strive for is a set of quality institutions, rules, procedures...

It should, he says, be a sincere partner of the economy, "because the economy creates what the state spends by providing public services and policies." Without an adequate partnership, the results, he claims, will always be insufficient.

"The state must change and build a new relationship, a relationship of true partnership and overcoming the role of 'elder brother' over the economy. It builds rules that must be equal for everyone. It is up to her to create an adequate framework", Konjević assesses for "Vijesti".

He states that the state, at the same time, should be the protector of property and an effective mechanism for resolving disputes. He notes that the state must not be a barrier to business, but must create a fair and dynamic business environment.

"The country is both an anthem and a flag, because respecting the symbol is a sign of loyalty and dedication to the country and its driving force - the economy," says Konjević.

According to the sociologist and program director of the Center for Civic Education (CGO), the anthem and the flag are Petar Đukanović, the most recognizable symbols of the state that should be respected, but they represent only a fraction of its essence. Unfortunately, he says, Montenegro is such a divided society that symbols do not unite, because, he reminds, there is a significant number of citizens, but also political actors who do not accept them as their own and do not respect them, "while some sing the anthem with one hand on their heart , and the other plunders the country through corruption and crime".

"Being devoted to the state and a patriot would mean having an honest and responsible attitude towards the obligations we have as members of society, towards others and different people with whom we live, towards institutions and laws, to be an active and conscientious citizen who contributes to his community at every step. "Unfortunately, Montenegro is still not a society that has matured into a community - it is more of a group of people who bind the territory where they live, much less common values, solidarity and a sense of belonging," Đukanović told "Vijesta".

Pronounced ethno-national divisions, which have a long history and often resemble those from the time of the referendum in 2006, could speak in support of his thesis. The current opposition claims that these divisions have been particularly visible in the last four years, after the DPS government was replaced.

THE STATE AS THE PROTECTOR OF CITIZENS' RIGHTS

When asked what the state's obligations are to citizens, Đukanović replied that the state has an obligation to protect the rights and freedoms of citizens, to provide them with security and safety, to enable economic stability and well-being through access to quality education, health services and social protection, and developed public services. The state's obligation to protect the environment through the implementation of sustainable development policies is also important, he adds. Such a country, he says, citizens feel their own and are attached to it, "because they feel at home in their own way, respect the laws, contribute to the community through volunteer work and political participation, pay taxes regularly, respect the rights of others, are environmentally responsible, etc."

"Only a community of dedicated citizens has the perspective of a stable, just and prosperous society," asserts Đukanović.

Vukićević has an opinion similar to his, who says that the state is obliged to, first of all, guarantee the realization and protection of human rights and freedoms for every citizen, to ensure the real and essential application of the principles of the rule of law and democratic governance, to work dedicatedly and continuously to improve the quality of life standards of citizens in a safe environment and creates a stimulating environment for the work and development of each individual in accordance with clearly defined criteria.

The state, he adds, is also obliged to create an environment in which young and talented people who can contribute to the development of Montenegro will be encouraged to stay.

"The state in relation to its citizens must respect the principles of equality, gender equality, it is obliged to create an environment in which every citizen will feel safe. In order to reach that level, we still have a lot of joint work ahead of us, both the people who make up the state apparatus on the one hand, and the citizens themselves who are the bearers of sovereignty", says Vukićević.

When it comes to citizens, she states that they are the most important for the state to function properly. Their obligations, he emphasizes, are above all to respect the laws and help those who make decisions "by guiding them and helping them create a fairer society."

According to her, everyone in society must get rid of "bad patterns of behavior that are inherited and difficult to change", regardless of the changes in government that have taken place. He says that currently it is not expressed to the extent it was, but that the fact is that many bad practices have been retained, which do not contribute to the development of the country in the right direction.

"On the other hand, citizens should also be aware of their rights. From personal experience, I can notice that they are often not familiar with the mechanisms available to them in the protection of personal rights, and we have to work on that. Likewise, we must not forget to protect others from ourselves, i.e. respecting the law and contributing by personal example to the development of society and community", states the DNP member.

Konjević shares a similar opinion about the obligations of the state and citizens, who says that the duties of the state are efficient administration, services, quality education and public policies, as well as security and stability. Likewise, he adds, the affirmation of a quality business environment, as well as a stimulating framework for the development of entrepreneurship.

"By collecting taxes, the state assumes the role of organizer and promoter of public policies that create a better environment for citizens and offers them services and policies that will create a better and more pleasant environment for life. The state is, in essence, the protector of citizens' rights, which gives them the Constitution and laws, the creator of the environment that will lead the country and its economy forward in every field", explains the interlocutor.

Speaking about the obligations of citizens, Konjević says that paying taxes and respecting the law are key.

"By respecting the laws, you are essentially helping the state in implementing its public policies. Certainly, citizens are the ones who should oversee the implementation of these policies and be the controller of their success. It is part of the democratic system. A citizen is a sovereign who has transferred his powers to public office holders and who rightfully has to monitor their work", underlines the interlocutor.

On the subject of obligations of states and citizens, Vuković has a somewhat different view, who says that his impression, based on comparative experience and after five years of living abroad, is that in Montenegro, the obligations of the state towards citizens are given much greater importance than the obligations of citizens towards the state. . Moreover, he adds, one could almost speak of an inversely proportional relationship that, at the level of expectations, defines mutual rights and obligations.

"That's why, while in the USA, whose society is dominantly based on the ideas of individual responsibility and the inalienable right to the 'pursuit of happiness', Kennedy's famous 'don't ask what the state can do for you...' seems quite logical and socially acceptable, in Black In Gori, it is significantly different", assesses the representative of the DPS.

Vuković says that he thinks that the explanation of such a relationship can be found in the contemporary political history of Montenegro.

"Proud of a thousand-year state-building tradition, we must not lose sight of what, in practice, the functioning of the state looked like in different periods of time. This, for example, is evidenced by the unwillingness of Montenegrins during the 19th century to pay taxes to the state for whose freedom, paradoxically, they simultaneously perished. On the other hand, one of the achievements of the era of socialist development of our country is the widespread attitude that the state, in accordance with the then principles of social security of citizens, should solve their problems", he reminds.

In addition, he adds, every few decades the foundations on which the Montenegrin society rested were demolished and rebuilt, which is why, he says, naturally, even the feeling of this kind of obligation of the citizens towards that society and the state could not take particularly deep roots. As a result of the above, today, he says, we live in a society where many citizens, with enormous expectations, imagine the state in a functional sense as an abstract creation with which they have little connection, "unaware that the state is made by them and that responsibility, in that sense, they share with hundreds of thousands of other people”.

"One of the concrete consequences of such a relationship is the economic populism that threatens to permanently bring Montenegro to its knees, and which, unfortunately, was initially accepted by a large number of our citizens. On the contrary, we must understand that a country will only be as good as we - its citizens - will be. To have, we must create. That is, if we remain on the field of transactional relations, in order for the state to be able to give us (kindergartens, schools, hospitals, better infrastructure, etc.), we must first give to the state", says Vuković.

With the phrase "economic populism" Vuković alludes to the implemented and announced economic programs of the ruling Europe Now Movement (PES), which relate to salary and pension increases. The opposition claims that these programs can ultimately lead to the collapse of public finances.

SOCIETY CORRODED BY CORRUPTION

When asked whether Montenegro fulfills its obligations to its citizens and whether it does it well, Vuković says that the answer depends on what individuals expect from the state.

"Before I state what, I believe, is the general impression - that the rule of law still represents a serious challenge, that state institutions are still insufficiently strong, the administration is still insufficiently capacitated, and public services that should provide certain services to citizens are still insufficient effective, I would like to remind you that Montenegro is a young country, which has gone through a turbulent period since the restoration of independence, in an environment fraught with serious problems. Therefore, expectations from the state should be adjusted to those facts," Vuković told "Vijesta".

At the same time, he says, as a consequence of the political changes in 2020, in many areas of importance for the quality of life of citizens, such as the education system, public health, etc., there is a "serious regression due to brutal political revanchism and, in most cases, the illegal promotion of unprofessional and irresponsible staff to decision-making positions".

"A very bad impression of state bodies, which is created in this way in the public, certainly does not contribute to the sense of responsibility of citizens. On the contrary," states Vuković.

The new authorities, which govern the country after the fall of the DPS, are often attacked by a section of the public for using the party's bad practices, such as party recruitment, abuse of institutions and state resources, non-transparency in work... Therefore, some commentators on political situations they claim that there were no changes in 2020, but "shifts and replacements".

Konjević assesses that the system of building an efficient and modern state is a process, that it never ends, but is only upgraded and improved. He says that Montenegro has started this process in the new system of parliamentary democracy and market economy, and that therefore it takes time.

"Perhaps even generations. Serious progress has been made, but there is still a lot to be done in that field. Both good and bad actions of the state are part of 'learning'. Something is also part of the tradition. The tradition of parliamentary democracy and market economy is not great in our country, and therefore it is rightly expected that the process of integration into the EU will rapidly build quality institutions that are the foundation of every modern society", he states, adding that citizens treat the state and its obligations equally. like her, and that there is room for a lot of progress, above all "changes in approach and even a part of mental habits".

Vukićević states that he believes that both the Government and the Assembly, as decision-makers, but also all those who are important in the system of government and state-citizen relations, are trying to create the best possible environment and living conditions. Of course, he says, he can and must always do better, and he should be aware that development and progress are not possible without the cooperation and involvement of all stakeholders.

"Even the best intentions of government representatives in a given term cannot come to life in practice if they are not well communicated with the citizens and if they do not feel it is theirs. On the other hand, the lack of listening to the needs of citizens also leads to regression, because without treating the initiatives and needs of citizens - the state cannot go in the right direction", she claims.

That the state is not going in that direction, comes from the statement of Đukanović, who says that Montenegro has failed to build a system that provides all citizens with equal access to opportunities, that is, a "state of social trust". According to him, there is a majority consensus on the values ​​of the rule of law, democracy, social justice and inclusion, but he adds that significant burdens are present in achieving these goals. There are certain developments, he says, but they are insufficient because the institutions are not yet strong enough to function for the benefit of citizens.

"The state is a victim of corruption that has eroded almost every segment of society, which perpetuates the weaknesses and decay of institutions. The bitter spice of everything are the processes of re-traditionalization of society, political and ethnic divisions that are flourishing, revisionism that threatens to threaten the achieved civilizational values, such as anti-fascism. In this context, the trends that speak of the desire of young people to leave the country, especially those who are the most educated, are worrying," warns the interlocutor of "Vijesti".

According to CGO data from last year, almost 60 percent of young people, i.e. 84 thousand, are unemployed in Montenegro. That research also showed that about 40 percent of them want to leave the country, and that 62 percent still live with their parents.

Vuković says that it seems to him that a significant number of citizens are still getting used to the privilege of living in their own country, that is, to the aforementioned sense of obligation that comes with it.

"Simply put, the state of Montenegro will be what we make of it. The sooner we all understand this, the greater the chances that Montenegro will be a happy and prosperous society", he concludes.

Đukanović: The personal above the general - a key feature of political life

Explaining the position that the state does not fulfill its obligations to citizens, Đukanović says that the reason for this is that decision-makers put personal and party interests above the common good, which, he says, has become a key feature of political life in Montenegro.

The changes that followed after 2020 did not, according to him, bring significant progress in the fight against the bad practices of the previous authorities, but those practices continued with improved methods and various abuses.

"To cover up their interest and often inability to manage society for the benefit of all, political elites constantly manipulate issues from the past, ethnic and religious tensions, which is particularly dangerous and further damages society. There is no responsibility to break the chain of abuses and manipulations, nor a vision of how to rise above the constant emphasis on divisions and differences that are fundamentally irrational, into something that is a higher form of association and trust towards democratic consolidation," Đukanović claims.

He says that citizens, faced with problems and shortcomings of the system, are often forced to adapt to unsustainable practices that dominate society, which weakens social cohesion.

"Unfortunately, this kind of adaptation and lack of initiative to change things is a very bad forecast for the further democratic development of the country", says the interlocutor.

Vukićević: Citizens are finally allowed to criticize without fear

Vukićević says that it is commendable that in Montenegro "finally" there is an environment in which every individual has the freedom to claim their rights, "because it is normal and it is something that belongs to them". He claims that this was not the case until a few years ago, and that this is one of the most positive consequences of the change of government.

"This kind of behavior, where citizens alone or in association have mechanisms to claim their rights, also influences the decision makers to work better and find a way to enable citizens to get the rights that belong to them. Citizens are there to be a corrective factor, they have the greatest strength, it belongs to them to choose who will represent them. And it is positive that they finally have the freedom to express criticism without fear... and we are witnesses that it was not like that until a few years ago", she points out.

The interlocutor says that everyone must, in order to create a better social environment, learn to respect different opinions and to have a dialogue about things on which they do not have the same views with others.

"This applies to those who currently exercise power and to all actors of political life, but also to the citizens themselves. If we are not able to overcome our differences through dialogue, then there can hardly be any progress", she concludes.

SURVEY

Nikola Berishaj:

The state is an organization that should work for the benefit of the citizens, since it is led by those elected by the people. It depends on where, on which meridian the state is located, it can be both power and democracy. As much as democracy is, it is not that perfect, but it is the best way to organize a community. We should not ask what the state should do for us, but what we can do for it. Above all, the country owes me peace and dignity. Not only to me personally, but to all other citizens.

Andrijana Veljović:

As a citizen, I should respect my country and its symbols. Also, the anthem should be respected. The state, in my opinion, should provide decent living conditions. I am satisfied with how the state treats fellow citizens, but it can always be better. I would improve every sector by even ten percent.

Ranko Đurišić:

The country is everything to me. I owe her a lot. She is my heart and I am Montenegrin.

Biljana Joksimović:

The state should be a kind of extended family and one of the elements of our identity with which we will identify. Whether the state respects citizens is a very broad concept. It depends in what sense. I am not at all satisfied with the current situation. The standard of living is of interest to every citizen. Everything else comes naturally. If the state takes care of the citizens, then all the accompanying things come.

Marinela Ljumović:

I am in the process of obtaining citizenship. I have ten years of residency and five years of marriage. I see Montenegro as my country and I celebrate the National Day. The status quo is indeed questionable to me, but I am positive. I think it will get better, in the direction of Europe, where we belong. I have a child with special needs, so I can speak in that direction and point out that we have a lot more capacity and amenities. We just lack staff. We don't trot behind others, but we don't have staff, defectologists, pedagogues, specialists. We miss our staff.

Komnen Lakušić:

To tell you the truth, I am not satisfied with this state of affairs, but what are you going to do? I would change parliamentary clubs, complete. To make the elections more legitimate. The state owes me a lot, and I owe it nothing. They haven't paid me for years of service, and my pension is small. I was not respected properly.

Jovana Vukčević:

The state should respect all citizens, and they should also have a form of responsibility towards it. Of course, the situation is not ideal, but it is not that bad either. I would like the state to provide more for young people. It is important to respect the elders for everything they have done for us.

Eldin Nurkovic:

For me, the state is an important community, although I don't have a very strong opinion about it. I am satisfied with the condition. I wish no one worked on holidays.