Montenegrin society is exposed to enormous pressure in order to weaken the cohesion based on civil, secular and European values, and at the expense of nationalist and populist irresponsible manipulations which further weaken insufficiently built institutions. This was announced by the president of the Atlantic Alliance of Montenegro, Milica Pejanović Đurišić, at the opening of the 14th 2BS Forum.
Pejanović Đurišić believes that Montenegro, as a NATO member and the most serious candidate for EU membership, is at a critical point that will determine its future.
"In a country that is firmly committed to the Euro-Atlantic path, it must not be allowed to ignore challenges that come from outside and that can very easily turn into internal problems," says Pejanović Đurišić.
She said that the world is facing big changes, first of all, wars in Europe and the Middle East, but also in less visible places.
The theme of this year's forum is "A World in Disarray: Turning Challenges into Opportunities", with a focus on global and regional security challenges. The event will last until October 7.
"Europe is facing one of the most complex periods in history. Russian aggression is entering its third year. The Ukrainian resistance has become a global resistance to preserve the integrity of every independent state in the world. At the Washington summit, NATO reaffirmed its commitment to its goals. International assistance to Ukraine was agreed upon. Conditions for further transformation of the alliance were also agreed at the summit," said Pejanović Đurišić.
She said that a special aspect of the 2BS Forum will refer to the reflections of geopolitical events on the Western Balkans.
"Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina remain key points of possible conflict. Messages from Banja Luka and Belgrade call for the spread of tensions and the slowing down of Euro-Atlantic integration. Political polarization represents a much more serious threat than they are ready to admit from the highest addresses and adapt the policy. The road to the EU, although challenging, must remain a key goal. Our events support the strengthening of cooperation and the exchange of experience. Our goal is not to point out problems, but also to solve them," she pointed out.
Pejanović Đurišić believes that propaganda and disinformation campaigns, which often come from Moscow via Belgrade and Banja Luka, and that the goal is to destabilize the region. On the other hand, China's economic influence remains part of the geopolitical pressure that further complicates regional dynamics.
"For Montenegro, these tendencies mean that we have to be more careful than ever. As a member of NATO and the most serious candidate for EU membership, our country is at a critical point that will determine its future. In a country that is firmly committed to the Euro-Atlantic path , it must not be allowed to ignore the challenges that come from outside and that can very easily turn into internal problems," says Pejanović Đurišić.
Political polarization, ethno-nationalism and vulnerability to foreign malignant influence represent, she adds, much more serious threats to our democratic development and progress towards full integration into European structures than the domestic top officials are ready to recognize and accordingly make the necessary adjustments to public policies.
"There is no need to illustrate the fact that Montenegrin society is exposed to enormous pressure in order to weaken the cohesion based on civil, secular, European values, and at the expense of nationalist and populist irresponsible manipulations which further weaken insufficiently built institutions, which consequently threatens the stability of the system in all its segments", assessed Pejanović Đurišić.
According to Pejanović Đurišić, these challenges are not insurmountable, but represent an opportunity to strengthen institutions, improve processes and demonstrate the resilience of our civil society.
"The road to the EU, although challenging, must remain a strategic goal and a key factor of internal cohesion and stability. The Atlantic Alliance of Montenegro, as one of the leading proponents of Euro-Atlantic values in the country, will continue to be a partner to all those working to strengthen these processes. In this sense, I hope that the support of the Government of Montenegro not only for the Forum, but also for holding a strategic dialogue after the Forum, means a readiness to overcome the stagnation in the promotion and adoption of Euro-Atlantic values and principles, concluded Pejanović Đurišić, adding that the 2BS Forum plays an invaluable role in strengthening the partnership between Montenegro and international institutions, such as NATO and the European Union, and in promoting Montenegro's interests on the international scene.
Rajzing Rajnke: We continue to witness bad national rhetoric
US Ambassador Judy Reising Ranke said the 2BS Forum is a community of problem-solvers who oppose pessimists and conspiracy theorists.
"Russia's aggressive war against Ukraine has been stalling for more than two years. The toll that people pay in this uncertain world is enormous. And while the forum will deal with the most important issues of the Western Balkans, my focus will be Montenegro. We are already calling it the first future member of the EU." , she said at the opening of the forum.
He points out that the United States of America is not the only one that supports Montenegro's progress towards the EU.
"The US welcomes the adoption of the chapter and the achievement of a positive IBAR, but we continue to witness bad national rhetoric," she said.
She said that they fully support further progress in regional economic and security cooperation, especially in Montenegro's efforts towards European integration.
"However, identity politics, encouraged and manipulated by malicious actors and their proxies, creates a climate of division that could handicap this country, but also any other country where all members of different groups are not respected and accepted."
Rajzing Rajnke also says that membership in NATO prepared Montenegro for the EU.
"During the process of joining NATO, Montenegro established KAS, SDT. Montenegro worked to strengthen its institutions and I am proud of the help provided by the USA. Ensuring economic growth and prosperity is another area of progress that is very important on the way to EU. If people are economically insecure, they are susceptible to manipulation, but if they are not, they are more resilient and the country will prosper," she added.
The ambassador also said that "a large part of our work" is related to economic dialogue, which is a powerful platform for the development of expertise.
"It is necessary that investments are encouraged by security and defense. The responsibility for eliminating harmful policies and negative influences lies with political leaders," she added.
Rising Rajnke points out that reconciliation is of key importance for young people to stay in Montenegro, and that "corrosive debates about corruption from the past make the reform path difficult for the Government".
"The power of true trust is in the hands of the people. Every citizen has the power of respect and forgiveness. Remember that the world was thrilled 35 years ago when the Berlin Wall came down. It was not brought down by politicians, agreements or acts of violence, but by people with hands and a hammer because wanted freedom," she reminded.
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