The divisions in Montenegro are predominantly the result of political manipulations that most of the ruling political structures use to maintain power, and calls for reconciliation serve as a political instrument for deepening them, the "Vijesti" interlocutors assessed.
Program Director of the Center for Civic Education (CGO) Petar Djukanovic says that one cannot advocate peace while at the same time propagating ideas that "cause new divisions, incite ethnic conflicts and promote exclusivity".
Civic activist Milena Bešić says that almost as a rule "reconciliation" serves as a political instrument precisely for deepening divisions, which is obviously the common denominator of the parties in power.
"While there are undoubtedly challenges in our social cohesion, it is hard to deny that political elites often deepen tensions with their statements, decisions and actions instead of calming them down," said Bešić, commenting on the fact that a number of politicians have been advocating "reconciliation" in Montenegro for the past few years. Gori, especially the leaders of the New Serbian Democracy (NSD) and the Democratic People's Party (DNP), Andrija Mandic i Milan Knezevic.
When asked who the citizens should reconcile with and whether the real society is so quarrelsome, Đukanović answers that the society in Montenegro is not necessarily as quarrelsome as politicians, like Milan Knežević, want the citizens to believe, but also often encourage.
On January 6, in his Christmas card, Knežević called for "salvation and reconciliation", saying that "there is no such law that can stop hatred".
"But if there is anything left in our blood from our ancestors, it's time to save this country," said Knežević, referring to the mass murder in Cetinje, protests and comments on social media on the occasion.
In Cetinje, on January 1st, a local Aco Martinović killed 12 people and seriously injured four others, one of whom died on January 9. He fired an illegally possessed pistol at five different locations in the city. This is the second mass murder in Cetinje in two years, which is why, at the invitation of the informal student group "Kamo sjutra", several protests were organized in Podgorica and in Cetinje, demanding the removal of the political leadership of the security system, the demilitarization of society, and a change in the attitude of the police towards citizens and the return of the civics education subject to the school system...
The Government announced a series of measures, among other things, the hiring of new police officers and urgent actions to confiscate illegal weapons.
Knežević said that if we "continue to hate each other like this", no laws on confiscation of weapons will restore security in homes.
"When they take away our firearms by law, we will kill each other with axes, pitchforks, pickaxes. And when they take that away from us by law, we will kill each other by ramming cars and trucks into each other. And when they take away our motor vehicles by law, we will kill each other with spoons, forks, toothbrushes, cups of coffee and tea. And when they take away our dishes and toothbrushes by law, there are so many stones in Montenegro that we will go back to the stone age and spill each other's skulls like watermelons until we investigate the last Montenegrin or Serb (as you please)," he said. is Knežević.
Calls for reconciliation are not perceived as sincere
Đukanović believes that Knežević's statement, which suggests the escalation of violence and the spread of hatred, reveals the deep contradiction of political actors who declaratively stand for peace, togetherness and reconciliation, while at the same time actively encouraging and deepening divisions in society through their actions and rhetoric.
"That's why calls for reconciliation by Knežević, as well as political actors close to him, are not perceived as sincere," said Đukanović.
It is clear, as he believes, that such a call for alleged reconciliation is actually an attempt to impose one ideological framework as the only correct one, while all other attitudes, identities and approaches are rejected, attacked and declared hostile.
"It should be remembered that there is no dialogue, nor do democratic principles live in an atmosphere of conditionality, and therefore there is no reconciliation," said Đukanović.
Milena Bešić believes that Knežević's statement is extremely irresponsible and represents additional incitement of fear and insecurity.
"At a time when security sector institutions have shown complete inefficiency, and the Government's response has been limited to proposals for stricter laws - while even the existing ones are not being implemented - this kind of rhetoric creates an atmosphere of distrust and encourages polarization. Additionally, the current hate speech on social networks and portals, to which we are still waiting for the state's reaction, only proves that this kind of rhetoric from political addresses is clearly yielding the desired results," said Bešić.

It says that any other "reconciliation" that implies relativizing the past, legitimizing extreme ideologies, or targeting the media and critically minded individuals is dangerous for the future of Montenegrin society.
NSD leader and Assembly President Andrija Mandić has repeatedly said that "reconciliation, stability and mutual respect are prerequisites necessary for Montenegro to progress", as well as that he wants to build Montenegro "with Montenegrin relatives"...
"The year that is behind us has shown us that the only correct path that Montenegro can take is the path of reconciliation and stability," Mandic stated recently in his New Year's greeting.
Đukanović says that citizens are aware of the situation and see that politicians are intentionally fueling tensions in order to create a sense of insecurity and thereby maintain a social climate that favors their narrowest personal and party interests.
"This is confirmed by the findings of the CG Pulse, a joint initiative of the CGE and the Damar Institute, according to which citizens cite political parties as convincingly the most responsible for divisions in Montenegrin society - 53,4 percent," he said.
The "vicious circle" will be broken, but the wounds will remain
Petar Đukanović says that political actors who declaratively stand for reconciliation actually use every moment to provoke and add fuel to the fire of existing divisions, whether it is about sensitive identity issues, related historical and religious topics or attacks on critical voices.
"This indicates that their goal is to strengthen divisions and maintain a political dynamic in which opposing positions are hostile, and those who have political power retain it through the illusion that it is 'safer'. However, such approaches have proven futile before, so it is to be expected that this seemingly vicious circle will also be broken, and the price is paid by those who benefit most politically from it through the loss of that political profit. Unfortunately, the entire society pays a much higher price, in which such wounds, due to the irresponsible attitude of politicians, remain to be healed for a long time," said Đukanović.

He believes that true reconciliation must have a certain value thread, which is the basis for overcoming other differences and opening for building a society based on dialogue, respect for diversity and joint work for the common good.
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