Statement by a member of parliament from the ruling Bosniak Party (BS) Kenane Strujić Harbić, that Bosniaks (from Montenegro) view Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) as their home state - is not surprising given that Montenegro has been transforming from a civil state into a state of nations for years, so the existence of those who would tear it apart along ethno-religious lines is not at all questionable.
Thus, the interlocutors of "Vijesti" comment on the assessment of Strujić Harbić, who last weekend reported from Sarajevo that Bosniaks in Montenegro "do not communicate with their mother country" "even on a monthly basis", unlike other peoples in the country who, as she claims, "communicate with their mother countries daily".
"Serbs in Montenegro have Serbia behind them, Albanians have two states, Croats have 24-hour communication. Bosniaks in Montenegro are left to their own devices," she said.
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Her statement was harshly criticized by some Bosniak politicians from other parties, and the MP and vice president of the Bosniak Party Jasmin Ćorović He reacted yesterday to these assessments by saying that Montenegro is the homeland of Bosniaks, and that "the fact that some other countries also like it should not be a problem for anyone."
"It is sad to see the reactions of certain former and current officials and party functionaries to Strujić Harbić's statement... Because all their politics and reactions boil down to attacks, especially those who have unreservedly supported Montenegro, restoring its independence, raising the living standards of its citizens, and its membership in NATO and the EU," Ćorović said.
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Yesterday, BS did not respond to questions from "Vijesti" about whether Strujić Harbić's position is the official position of that party, and whether that party considers any other countries to be its home country.
Sarajevo, Belgrade, Tirana...
Commentary Strujić Harbić is not the only one who came from the ruling majority, and who is declaring another country the motherland of a part of Montenegrin citizens. The first man of Nikšić and a high official of the New Serbian Democracy (NSD) Marko Kovacevic, he said in December 2022 that, "when we cooperate with our mother country, we can all be better off."
"We must respect what Serbia has told us that we can rely on it. Serbia is the motherland of all Serbs," he said at a session of the Serbian Parliament's Committee on Diaspora and Serbs in the Region.
The Minister of Spatial Planning, Urbanism and State Property distanced himself from his statement. Slaven Radunović, then head of the parliamentary group of the former Democratic Front (DF), saying that Montenegro was his homeland because "it was Serbian throughout history."
Minister of Economic Development and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Djelosaj (Albanian Forum) stated in a television show in January 2023 that for all Albanians, Albania is the motherland, and that Montenegro is the civil state of all the peoples living in it, which they "absolutely respect and honor".
"I think we are loyal citizens of this country, and it is our country. Someone can say that their motherland is China, that is a personal choice," said Đeljošaj, then the leader of Tuzi.
Šaranović: Transformation into a state of peoples
Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Law, University of Donja Gorica Nikola Šaranović, told "Vijesti" that the statement by the BS representative was a surprise to some of the public, considering that, according to him, for years and decades we have been witnessing the transformation of Montenegro from a state of citizens to a state of people.
He assessed that those who largely contributed to "that transformation" were the most surprised, insisting on the thesis that Montenegrins and minorities restored Montenegro's independence, and that "civilian Serbs" were also acceptable in this, which is, to put it mildly, discrimination.
"As if the peoples, not the citizens, were voting in the 2006 referendum, a romantic hermeneutic was introduced between Montenegrins and minorities, and a radical hermeneutic between Montenegrins and Serbs. Then a sketch was drawn for an ethno-federalist portrait of Montenegro," he said.
Šaranović noted that the referendum vote turned out to be "a relationship towards the frame, not towards the picture", and that therefore the independence-unionist paradigm from 2006 is outdated.
"It does not show a real attitude towards Montenegro as a state - and as a reminder, it was so even before 2006, 'on the basis of the historical right of the Montenegrin people to their own state acquired in centuries-old struggles for freedom', as the first recital of the preamble to the Constitution of the Republic of Montenegro from 1992 read," the interlocutor pointed out.
He pointed out that the essential attitude towards Montenegro as a state would be shown by the answer to the hypothetical referendum question - "is Montenegro your only state?", adding that a minority of those who voted 'yes' in 2006 would answer that question with 'no', while the majority of those who voted 'no' then would answer the hypothetical question with 'yes'.
Šaranović said that those for whom Montenegro is the only state, regardless of common denominators with other countries, "which no reasonable person questions," represent a new majority that seeks a new articulation through the paradigm of inclusive Montenegrinity.
"This is the only guarantor of Montenegro's civic character and the only barrier against inclusive concepts from the region, which aim to establish Montenegro as a state of peoples," he underlined.
Nikolić: Either the mother country or the diaspora
Pisac Nikola Nikolic He said that the matter, in a formal sense, is very simple, explaining that there is a “home state” and that its opposite is a “diaspora.” In other words, he says, emigration or dispersion, adding that there are no intermediate variants.
"If your homeland is not in a country that inherits a long tradition of statehood, where you were born and where you trace your origins back generations, then, in accordance with your own opinion, you live in a diaspora, or emigration, or dispersion. If you still think that is not the case - who will know: either you are poorly informed, and therefore pliable, or perhaps you resent the position of the borders," he assessed for "Vijesti".
Nikolić said that, as a Montenegrin, he does not believe that Montenegro belongs to him any more than to any Montenegrin Serb, Bosniak, Muslim, Albanian, Croat, Roma or "some anational local family."
He stated that it is natural to strive for the closest ties with ethnically related communities in this or that neighboring country, but that one should also be considerate of the country in which one lives and its legal system - "which is especially important if you are part of the ruling structure."
"There is no doubt that there are those in Montenegro who would like to tear it apart along some crazy ethno-religious lines. However, there is no need to make a big fuss about such statements. The fact that a party calls itself 'Bosniak' or 'Serbian' or 'Montenegrin' does not mean that it is an unassailable beacon of some 'Bosniak', 'Serbian' or 'Montenegrin' collective understanding. I personally know many Bosniaks who consider Montenegro their homeland," he said.
When asked whether Strujić Harbić's statement and similar examples are indicators that the concept of a civic state is just a dead letter on paper, the interviewee replied that the only way to a civic state is through the concept of constitutional patriotism, which, he says, has never fully come to life here. And in order for it to come to life, according to him, the state must have strong institutions and foster the rule of law.
"Which is difficult to achieve in Montenegro due to the 'culture' of partitocracy, corruption and nepotism. Only faith in the power of constitutionalism and legality can reconcile ethnic and religious disagreements," Nikolić said.
The term “constitutional patriotism” is most associated with the German philosopher Jürgen Habermas (Jürgen Habermas), who developed the concept in the context of Germany after World War II, where national patriotism was compromised by the Nazi legacy. Habermas defines constitutional patriotism as a form of patriotism based on universal democratic values and the rule of law defined by the highest legal act - the constitution.
Teacher Ilija Vujacic He wrote that constitutional patriotism, unlike other normative strategies of political integration, is a particularly suitable strategy for culturally differentiated societies, “because it implies a broadly inclusive concept of citizenship and identification with political principles and values that are common to all citizens, regardless of ethnic, religious, linguistic or other group affiliation.”
"As a specific form of patriotism, it implies a combination of universal principles that enable equal freedom for all and the recognition and appreciation of contextually given identity specificities. Unlike liberal nationalism and liberal multiculturalism, constitutional patriotism emphasizes unity, is inclusive, and does not neglect diversity," he stated.
Reactions
Councilor of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the Bijelo Polje parliament Adnan Strikovic, said that Strujić Harbić cannot speak on behalf of all Bosniaks.
"The MP can only say this personally, or perhaps on behalf of the members of the Bosniak Party, although I am sure that there are many among them who are deeply offended by this kind of narrative. But not on behalf of all Bosniaks. You 'stole' the name of the people and gave it to a political party, don't steal people's privacy and don't define who they are, what they are and where they are from," he said yesterday.
He said that his home and only country is Montenegro, and "let this be a warning to all those who try to impose their identity and origin on others."
"Get rid of the bad work while we still have the patience to react politely," Striković said.
Vice President of the SDP Amina Cikotić She said that the understanding of Bosniaks according to the BS standards is disastrous for Montenegrin society.
"After a series of failed attempts to completely stigmatize and humiliate anyone who is a Bosniak and not a supporter of the Bosniak Party, all that remains is for them to tell us that we are not Bosniaks if our home country is Montenegro. The leadership of the Bosniak Party (I'm sure their members don't either) may have a different home country, but we don't. They are already too similar to their coalition partners. Hang in there, Manda (Andrija Mandic") and don't trick us," she said.
A few years ago, Montenegro was her "only homeland"
In December 2020, Strujić Harbić, while appearing on a show on a Bosnian-Herzegovinian television station, said that Montenegro was the "only homeland" for Bosniaks.
"We are creating a good environment for our children, who will grow up and live in Montenegro tomorrow and create their own families, because we do not want to leave here, we do not have another homeland, we do not have another capital - our Montenegro is the only homeland, we do not have a spare one," she said on that occasion.
They want Bosnian as an official language
Former BS spokesperson Adel Omeragić said in late November 2024 that the party would advocate for the Bosnian language to be made official in Montenegro.
"Language protection is one of our priorities and we will advocate for the Bosnian language to be the official language in Montenegro," he said at the time, appearing on a podcast.
According to the Constitution, the official language in Montenegro is Montenegrin, and Serbian, Bosnian, Albanian and Croatian are also in official use.
The parties of the former DF are also advocating for a change to the highest legal act in terms of language.
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