Working groups of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro and Croatia are in an advanced stage of negotiations on the amount of compensation for several hundred Croatian citizens who were detained in the former camp in Morinje, and Vijesti has learned unofficially that discussions are underway on a multi-million-crore compensation amount.
When asked what was agreed regarding compensation and how much was involved, the special advisor to the Croatian Foreign Minister Vanda Babić Galić She replied to the newspaper yesterday that negotiations between the working groups are ongoing and are currently "in the refinement phase."
"What is important to emphasize is the agility of the Minister (of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro) Ervina) Ibrahimović and Prime Minister (Milojka) Spajić, which are transparent and open. Unfortunately, we also notice numerous obstructions when it comes to this topic, but it is important that the Montenegrin public perceives the fact that there is goodwill on the part of the Montenegrin Government, as well as sovereignist parties that are investing great efforts in resolving civilizational issues such as compensation for concentration camp inmates, missing persons, etc.," she said.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs told Vijesti in the middle of last week that talks with Croatia are being conducted "continuously and at all levels", and that bilateral consultations between the two departments are also held regularly.
"We also note that diplomatic affairs, by their nature, also involve internal communication between states, with the aim of reaching compromises and agreements acceptable to all parties... Through open dialogue, we are discussing with the Republic of Croatia all contentious issues, and the public will be informed in a timely manner about progress and further steps in resolving these issues, when the conditions are right," they underlined.
The newspaper reported in mid-May that Spajić's government hopes that Zagreb will allow Podgorica to close Chapter 31 (foreign, security and defense policy) in June, the closure of which it blocked at the end of last year, if the two countries agree on compensation for former detainees in Morinje, change the name of the city swimming pool in Kotor, and if the process of transferring the Tivat "Josip Marković" Cultural Center to Zagreb is finalized.
In the town of Morinj, in Kotor, from October 3, 1991 to August 18, 1992, the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) organized the so-called Center for the Reception of Prisoners from Croatia, known as the "Morinj Camp", where 292 people from the Dubrovnik region were detained in inhumane conditions (the two ministries were coordinating the lists of detainees because their documentation did not match). 169 prisoners testified about the inhumane treatment they were subjected to.
Four people were sentenced to 12 years in prison for this war crime in court. The Special State Prosecutor's Office (SDT) announced in early February that, on the orders of the Chief Special Prosecutor, Vladimir Novović, criminal cases were reopened regarding, among other things, war crimes in Morinje.
As for the remaining two issues being discussed, Vijesti has learned unofficially that the Croatian Minister of Foreign and European Affairs is scheduled to arrive in Tivat on Saturday. Gordan Grlić Radman and to resolve one of them with his Montenegrin counterpart Ibrahimović. Namely, to sign a contract on the donation of the Croatian Cultural Center in Donja Lastva and thus complete the process that began at the end of 2024.
Asked whether an agreement had been reached regarding the home, Babić Galić responded by reminding that in December last year, the Government made a decision to regulate property-legal relations with the Municipality of Tivat for that property, in order to donate it to Croatia through a contract "as an act of respect for the indigenous Croatian national minority in Montenegro, and to fulfill the fundamental civilizational values expected of a country that is closest to joining the European family."
"This is the beginning of strengthening good neighborly relations and even more visible progress is expected in resolving, above all, civilizational issues that currently burden the two countries," the interlocutor stated.
The government yesterday adopted a report on the completed negotiations for the conclusion of an agreement between Podgorica and Zagreb on the donation of a home. The document states that with this agreement, the government confirms its commitment to providing the Croatian minority with a "modern and adequate place for gathering, promotion of cultural events and preservation of their heritage."
The Cultural Center has been used for years by the Croatian National Council of Montenegro and the non-governmental organization Croatian Umbrella Community Dux Croatorum.
Regarding the case of the city pool in Kotor, the third controversial issue that has been discussed with Croatia recently, the reason for the dispute is that the local parliament decided in August 2021 to name the pool after Zoran Džimi Gopčević, who was said to be one of the best water polo players from this area.
Zagreb condemned this, claiming that Gopčević was a guard at the Morinj camp.
Babić Galić: You will close 31 when the conditions are met
Croatia did not allow Montenegro to close Chapter 31 at the end of last year (December), after relations between the two countries deteriorated. Previously, Zagreb, in the form of a non-paper, submitted requests to resolve several issues that it considers open and claims are damaging mutual relations. Relations have been strained due to a number of issues (ownership of the ship "Jadran", a memorial plaque at the Morinje camp, etc.), and most of all after the Montenegrin Parliament adopted a Resolution on the genocide in Jasenovac and the Dachau and Mauthausen camps at the end of June 2024.
When asked if there was a chance that Chapter 31 would be closed by the end of June, Advisor Grlić Radmana said that "European integration is not just about completing chapters", but rather their "integration into society, political and cultural life, levels of awareness, communication and their application in everyday life".
"When the conditions are met, this chapter will be closed, and Croatia will be, in this sense, just as it has been so far, a friendly hand that guides and opens the European door. Anyone who wants to skip over or ignore this fact is not blowing, together with Prime Minister Spajić, Minister Ibrahimović, sovereignists and minorities, into the Montenegrin sails that are sailing slowly but surely towards a European port," said Babić Galić.
Government sources claim that there is a "slim" chance that Chapter 31 will be "crossed out" by the end of the month, although, as they explained, it is technically possible. They remind that the chapter has passed through the working bodies of the EU Council and that only Croatia's "green light" is awaited.
Head of State Jakov Milatovic stated yesterday that steps have been taken towards the potential closure of Chapter 31. He stated that on June 11th, at the Ukraine - South-East Europe summit in Odessa, he met with the Croatian Prime Minister. Andrej Plenković and requested the unblocking of Chapter 31.
"I think that the delegations of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro and Croatia have had a few good talks in the previous period, the arrival of the President of Croatia Zoran Milanović "My visit to Montenegro a few weeks ago and my conversation with Plenković were steps towards potentially closing the chapter," he announced in Podgorica after the conference "National Platform for the Prevention of Violent Extremism".
At the intergovernmental conference between Montenegro and the EU, scheduled for June 27, the closure of Chapter 5 (public procurement) is likely, for which COREPER II (Committee of Permanent Representatives of the Governments of the Member States) approved a common position on Wednesday, previously adopted by COELA (Working Party of the EU Council on Enlargement and Accession Countries).
The European Parliament (EP) said in a report, adopted in the form of a resolution on Wednesday, that it regrets that Chapter 31 was not closed in December 2024, calling on "all parties involved to resolve the remaining bilateral issues in a constructive and good-neighborly manner and to prioritize the future interests of the citizens of the Western Balkans."
"Unresolved bilateral and regional disputes must not be used to block the accession process of candidate countries," the resolution said, welcoming bilateral consultations between Croatia and Montenegro.
This was also stated by the EP rapporteur for Montenegro. Marjan Sharec during the debate in that house.
"I would like to briefly emphasize that bilateral issues should not stop the process, as they did not in the case of the last enlargement, although some issues still await a final solution," he said.
European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos, she said that hopes for a quick resolution of outstanding bilateral issues that would enable the provisional closure of Chapter 31 as soon as possible.
The home does not have to be used in accordance with Montenegrin laws
The report on the completed negotiations for concluding the contract regarding the home in Donja Lastva states that, compared to the earlier draft, which the Government accepted on March 6, the key changes proposed by the Croatian side related, among other things, to changing the subject matter of the contract.
"Instead of the 'Contract on the Assignment of Real Estate without Compensation', it is proposed to conclude a 'Contract on the Gift of Real Estate'. In this context, Article 1 has been amended, in which it is proposed to specify that this is real estate owned by the state of Montenegro, with unlimited right of disposal."
In Article 2, it says, a terminological change was made - instead of "Croatian minority", it states "autochthonous Croatian minority". A new Article 3 was added, specifying that, based on the agreement, the Government of Montenegro will enable the Government of Croatia to register ownership rights to the said real estate, without any additional approvals or consents.
The report states that, at the proposal of the Montenegrin side, after additional interdepartmental consultations, the part of the article that specified that the subject of the contract was the gift of real estate built in 1922 by the Croats of Boka (Donje Lastva), was deleted, "in line with the mutually accepted position that this type of contract should not be burdened with historical facts."
It is added that, at the suggestion of the Croatian side, the part specifying that the Government of Croatia undertakes to use the donated real estate in accordance with the laws and regulations of Montenegro has been deleted.
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