Praise from the former Deputy Prime Minister of Serbia Alexander Vulin to the members of the Montenegrin Parliament Milan Knežević (DNP) and Vladimir Dobričanin (UCG) that "Serbs are worthy of their ancestors", confirms that Belgrade still counts on its "political pawns" in Montenegro and that it does not mind arranging things in another country, while at the same time sending a message to the New Serbian Democracy (NSD) Andrije Mandić to "increase control" if it wants the full support of the Serbian authorities, according to "Vijesti" interlocutors.
Vulin, president of the Socialist Movement, which is part of the ruling coalition in Serbia, congratulated Knežević and Dobričanin after they did not vote for the decision that Montenegro would send soldiers to the aid mission to Ukraine and, as he said, they preserved the right to say in Montenegro that "there are Serbs with worthy ancestors."
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As reported by IN4S, criticizing the decision of the Montenegrin Parliament to join the Army of Montenegro in NATO's activities to establish security assistance and training for Ukraine (NSATU), he stated that some Montenegrin Serbs voted for it "out of necessity", but that the NSD cast the decisive votes, which "is not a reason for surprise, but for disgust".
Vulin said that if the deputies of "this Serbian party" (NSD) had not been threatened with a stone or a pit, they would not have been sanctioned, and the ruling coalition would not have fallen apart.
"Maybe an embassy would deny them an invitation to a cocktail party, the Speaker of the Parliament Andrija Mandić would be replaced, and they would be given a minus in Brussels. Surely some Serbs in Montenegro made even more miserable choices, but I can't remember which ones. I congratulate Milan Knežević and Vladimir Dobričanin for preserving our right to say that there are Serbs with worthy ancestors in Montenegro. Honor and disgrace live forever," Vulin said.
The decision, by which two members of the Montenegrin Army will be deployed to the base in Wiesbaden, Germany, as part of administrative support for NATO activities, was voted for by MPs from the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS), the Europe Now Movement (PES), Democratic Montenegro, Social Democrats (SD), NSD, the Citizens' Alliance CIVIS, the Albanian Forum, the Bosniak Party and independent MPs. MPs from the DNP and Dobricanin voted against, while representatives of the Socialist People's Party (SNP) abstained.
The decision was made based on a proposal adopted by the Defense and Security Council on February 7 this year. The members of the Council, which consist of the presidents of the states Jakov Milatovic, Governments Milojko Spajic and the Assembly Andrija Mandić, agreed at that time that the activities of members of the Army within NATO can be carried out exclusively on the territory of one of the NATO countries. NATO will, among other things, coordinate the training of Ukrainian security forces.
A deeply offensive statement
Foreign policy commentator from Belgrade Bosko Jaksic He assessed that the praise for the two MPs is yet another confirmation that the Serbian government is counting on its pawns deployed among the "Montenegrins".
"That is why he concludes that in Montenegro 'there are Serbs with worthy ancestors'." That statement is deeply offensive because it implies that there are also Serbs who are not worthy of their ancestors," said Jakšić.
He pointed out that the statement is simultaneously a warning to New Serbian Democracy and Andrija Mandić, the "Chetnik duke in the position of President of the Parliament" to step up control if they want the full support of Belgrade.
"As things stand, Montenegro has condemned itself to practicing Greater Serbian nationalism," said Jakšić.
Former diplomat from Serbia Srećko Đukić He told "Vijesti" that it is known that Vulin, who has become "a greater Serb than all Serbs, a greater Russian than every Russian, who once mistook the beloved West for Mother Russia", with his views "judges, does not forgive".
"No, it's not about who gives more, but rather late love and self-awareness. After all, Vulin doesn't hide it, nor does he hide his extreme nationalism or his immeasurable Russophilia. He always communicates it clearly and loudly. That's the answer that must be given," said Đukić.
Djukic said that Vulin has no problem regulating things in Montenegro, criticizing some and praising others, if their views are not to his liking as an extreme "socialist":
"That wouldn't be a problem if he wasn't in the hands of the Serbian, or rather Russian, authorities and if he didn't say what Moscow and Belgrade think. Vulin belongs to those circles that support aggression, war and repression with all their might," believes Đukić.
As he added, there is no doubt that the forces of freedom and democracy, equality of peoples and states, and human rights, as always throughout history, will prevail, stating that "regression has never been able to defeat progress, nor darkness light."
"Vulin obviously cannot be satisfied with these facts, nor can those in his political wing, because there are sensible people in Montenegro, and they make sensible decisions. Arrows were aimed at these people from Moscow via Belgrade to Podgorica," said Djukic.
Political pest from the shadows
Boško Jakšić emphasizes that Vulin has once again legitimized himself, stating that he systematically and persistently repeats that he would be glad to see Montenegro "take a move that is not anti-Serbian for once."
"I wouldn't pay much attention to his vitriolic nonsense, but his Movement of Socialists is a member of the ruling coalition in Serbia, and no one in power is admonishing him for his inflammatory statements, so the question once again arises whether he is a ventriloquist (for the President of Serbia)." Aleksandar Vučić", said Jaksic.
He believes that Vulin is a "political saboteur" who persistently undermines relations between the two neighboring countries by accusing Montenegro of being "a source of instability and problems in the entire region."
"He does not give up on the idea of a "Serbian world" that encompasses half of Bosnia and all of Montenegro. He constantly feeds Belgrade's appetites for Podgorica. This creates an environment in which Serbian pro-regime media, on the occasion of debates about the Christmas Uprising, write extensively about Njegoš's days. This is an opportunity to support the monarchists, as in the conflict over the monument Pavlo Đurišić "They give their sympathies to the Chetniks," said Jakšić.
He said that, if it's any consolation, Vulin has a similar mission in Serbia - he opposes European integration, glorifies Russia, demands that Serbia join BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) and establishes a Russian Historical Society in Serbia.
"He demands that a law be passed on foreign agents, and on the occasion of the civil uprising, he repeats that the European Union is preparing a "bloody Maidan"... Vulin is a big political pest from the shadows," said Jakšić.
Knežević: Our position has been clear from the beginning
When asked how much Vulin's praise meant to him and how he viewed it being used to "slander" coalition partner NSD, Milan Knežević said that he had not changed his stance on not making statements to "Vijesti", adding that he had said everything on the subject to IN4S on Thursday.
"Our position has been clear from the beginning. We will not vote for any anti-Serbian or anti-Russian decision, no matter what. Not because we are more Serb than Serbs and more Russian than Russians, but because we are protecting Montenegro from itself," Knežević told IN4S.
Mandić's NSD did not respond to questions about how it views Vulin's statement and whether it was sent as a political message yesterday.
Spokesperson NSD, Mirko Milicic, three days ago, he said that it was a notorious untruth that someone from the Montenegrin Army was going to Ukraine.
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"No one will set foot on the territory of Ukraine or Russia," Miličić wrote on Facebook.
He pointed out that two members of the Montenegrin Army will be deployed to the base in Wiesbaden, Germany, 2.500 kilometers from the front, as part of administrative support for NATO activities.
"Our wish is to end the conflict between the two fraternal Orthodox peoples. We believe that this issue will soon be resolved through dialogue, just as it was started in Alaska," said Miličić, adding that advocating for peace and dialogue is "the essence of NSD policy."
A split in the “For the Future of Montenegro” coalition?
Professor of the Faculty of Political Sciences (FPN) in Belgrade Milos Besic He said on Thursday evening in the show Načisto on TV Vijesti that the increasingly pronounced differences between the leaders of the strongest constituents of the coalition For the Future of Montenegro, Mandić and Knežević, could negatively affect the growth of support for that alliance.
"Whether it's a staged rift or is that rift really real, that's what I would be very interested in seeing. At first I really thought it was a fake game, but now it doesn't seem like that, it just seems like there are some real foundations to it, that there is a certain rift," said Bešić.
As he added, if this split is real and genuine, the coalition For the Future of Montenegro, due to the enthusiasm they have from participating in government, will be at a loss if they divide among themselves.
Mandić and Knežević also have different opinions about the construction of the collector in Botun. Mandić's party did not oppose the construction of the facility, which Knežević is strongly protesting against, threatening to leave power in the capital.
Knežević is a frequent guest at events in Serbia, unlike Mandić. In February, he supported Vučić, speaking at a rally of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) in Sremska Mitrovica, on the occasion of Serbian Statehood Day - Sretenje.
He said at the rally that he would fight for Serbs in Montenegro to be granted the right to dual citizenship, "so that they are not Kurds in the Balkans" and for the Serbian language to have equal status in the Montenegrin Constitution, saying: "Montenegro and Serbia are the dearest brothers."
Mandić did not attend the SNS rally, nor the celebration of Serbian Statehood Day on the same day in Orašac, although he had attended such events in previous years. Several NSD officials were in the delegation with Knežević.
Unlike Mandić, Knežević has supported Vučić on several occasions since the protests in Serbia began and is also one of the signatories of the “petition in support of Vučić’s right to life”, which was launched by the Serbian Institute for Political Networking. The petition was also signed from Montenegro by an NSD MP and the mayor of Nikšić. Marko Kovacevic, as well as the leader of Free Montenegro Vladislav Dajković.
In 2020, while he was the Minister of Defense of Serbia, Vulin presented former members of the Yugoslav Army from Montenegro to Andrija Mandić and Danilo Leković Military Memorial Medal for Contribution to the Serbian Defense System. Mandić was also presented with a saber.
After presenting the award, Vulin emphasized that all those who defended the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in 1999 deserve equal attention and respect, regardless of whether they are citizens of Serbia or Montenegro.
Dobričanin: I don't see a problem with that.
Vladimir Dobricanin, a United Montenegro MP, told "Vijesti" that he personally, but also in the party, does not look at who praises them and who criticizes them.
"Anyone involved in politics, both in Montenegro and in the region, has the right to comment on certain political developments if they transcend national political borders. We stick to our principled positions and that is our legitimate policy," he said.
He pointed out that they believe that sending Montenegrin soldiers and officers certainly cannot help Ukraine, neither in training nor in manpower, and that Montenegro should not interfere in the conflict between two countries that have 110 and 42 million inhabitants.
"We can't even train our own soldiers properly, let alone other people's. If we are important to someone for training, then there is no future for that army. I am sure of that as someone who graduated from an officer's military school," said Dobricanin.
He pointed out that open hostility with traditional friends - Russia - is not in the best national interest, which, as he said, "the Russian ambassador to Montenegro confirmed in his latest reaction."
He said that the decision is up to all political entities, as well as partners and friends from the NSD, to vote as they believe is best for their policies.
"I don't see a problem with that, nor do I have the right to criticize someone for voting differently. We remain open to cooperation and are in many local coalitions with the NSD, and we believe that in the future we will insist on similarities, not differences. In any case, each of us is implementing our own program policies, but the UCG will never contribute to inter-Serbian quarrels in Montenegro. We have a lot of work ahead of us," said Dobricanin.
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