While Croatian officials say that there is progress "in millimeters" in negotiations on resolving open bilateral issues with Montenegro, the Montenegrin Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) responds that every move is "good progress."
When asked by "Vijesti" what specifically has been agreed with the Croatian side so far in terms of resolving issues that are controversial for them - including compensation for detainees in the former Morinje camp, the issue of ownership of the ship "Jadran", the demarcation of the two states (Prevlaka)... - the Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded yesterday that the issue of space for the Croatian community in Tivat has been resolved, that the intergovernmental Committee for Minorities and the Commission for Missing Persons have been renewed, and that the Summer School of the Croatian Language has been held (with plans to make it an annual event).
Despite the lack of resolution of key disputes, from the department it manages Ervin Ibrahimovic (Bosniak Party) claim that during 2025, Podgorica and Zagreb made “significant progress in improving mutual relations and resolving open bilateral issues”.
"Cooperation and communication at all levels - between presidents, prime ministers, foreign ministers, as well as through working contacts of other departments - are taking place continuously and without interruption, with the commitment of both sides to approach all issues of importance professionally, carefully and responsibly, with the aim of finding sustainable solutions to mutual satisfaction," the MFA said.
On the other hand, Vanda Babić Galić, advisor to the Croatian Foreign Minister Gordana Grlić Radman, said on Thursday that progress in resolving outstanding issues is happening - but "in millimeters, not kilometers."
In an interview with the Podgorica portal "Standard", she said that she hopes that the Prime Minister will Milojko Spajic (Europe Now Movement) and other members of the ruling coalition "successfully overcome all obstacles and complete the processes."
"Vijesti" announced at the beginning of September last year that Podgorica and Zagreb were about to resolve some of the disputed issues, and that the potential agreement should include the payment of compensation to Croatian citizens imprisoned in the Morinje camp, the non-removal of the memorial plaque at that location, and the change of name of the Kotor basin, and that the issue of ownership of the ship "Jadran" would be left for a later agreement or international arbitration. However, no agreement was reached.
Croatian authorities prevented Montenegro from closing Chapter 31 (foreign, security and defense policy) in negotiations with the EU at the end of 2024, and a month later, bilateral consultations between the two countries began.
"Fundamental analysis" is required for everything
When asked whether it is true that negotiations with Croatia are still progressing slowly, or "in millimeters", as Babić Galić said, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded that, bearing in mind that in most cases these are issues that have been open for decades, the department appreciates "that every move in resolving them is good progress".
"Each of the open issues requires a thorough analysis of the factual situation and the exchange of exact information, which must be devoid of personal impressions, interests or emotions," they said.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reminds that they have so far held two rounds of bilateral consultations with colleagues from the Croatian ministry, at the level of state secretaries, during which, they say, an agreement was reached on the dynamics of resolving certain open issues, improving cooperation and further strengthening bilateral relations.
They also point out that in mid-January this year, Ibrahimović met with his Croatian counterpart Grlić Radman in Kotor, during the celebration of the Day of the Croatian People, "when in a friendly atmosphere they took the opportunity to exchange views on the activities carried out and consider further steps in this regard."
They state that "concrete results" have been achieved: the issue of space for the Croatian national community in Montenegro was permanently resolved by donating real estate - the "Josip Marković" Cultural Center in Tivat, and the work of the Intergovernmental Mixed Committee for the Implementation of the Agreement on the Protection of the Rights of the Croatian Minority in Montenegro and the Montenegrin Minority in Croatia was renewed, which held a session in December last year after a multi-year break.
"During August last year, a summer school of the Croatian language was organized, in which 33 children participated, with the intention of organizing the Croatian Summer Campus on an annual basis," the MFA said, adding that the composition of the Government's Commission for Missing Persons was renewed, which "created conditions for continued cooperation with Croatia to improve efficiency in the search for missing persons from the wars of the 1990s."
The formation of the border and "Jadran" commissions is nearing completion.
The department headed by Ibrahimović told "Vijesti" that, due to their complexity, the issues of demarcation between Montenegro and Croatia, as well as the status of the training ship "Jadran", require the formation of special expert bodies and thorough preparation, including the engagement of experts from relevant fields.
In this regard, they claim, final activities are underway to form a commission for demarcation and determination of the state border, as well as a commission for resolving the issue of ownership of the ship "Jadran".
"These bodies will be composed of representatives of competent state authorities and recognized experts," the MFA said.
As already announced, the commission for the issue of ownership of the sailboat will be led by the Minister of Defense. Dragan Krapović (Democrats).
On the other hand, in October, the Croatian Government formed a “Commission for Resolving the Issue of the Return of the Training Ship 'Jadran' and Other Issues of Military Property Succession with Montenegro”.
Croatia claims to take over the "Jadran" from Montenegro, calling it a "hijacked Croatian ship" and citing the fact that in the period from 1933 to 1991, the sailing ship was based mostly in cities that are on the territory of present-day Croatia.
The argument of the Montenegrin authorities is that the "Jadran", as part of the common military property of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, which is used for civilian purposes, was not on the territory of Croatia in 1991, on the day when it declared, or in practice implemented, the decision on state independence, but was then in Montenegro - undergoing regular repairs at the former military shipyard in Tivat. Therefore, according to the Agreement on Succession Issues, the ship belongs to Montenegro.
Next meetings "in accordance with the agreed dynamics"
The MFA says that the dialogue between the two countries remains "open and substantive", and that subsequent meetings will be held "in accordance with the agreed dynamics, with a focus on continuing work on open issues and further strengthening good neighborly relations, in the spirit of partnership and mutual respect".
Croatia, meanwhile, has made new demands on Montenegro. In early October last year, it sent a diplomatic note to Podgorica demanding that the property of Croats in Boka Bay that was "stolen" from them, "through various machinations and strange entries in cadastral and other plans," be returned to them during the aggression against Croatia in the early 1990s.
The department headed by Ibrahimović announced at the time that the Croatian ministry had previously expressed interest in the case, when they were told that these issues in Montenegro were regulated by the Law on the Restitution of Seized Property Rights and Compensation. They said that this law applies equally to all citizens of Montenegro, regardless of their nationality.
The Montenegrin municipalities of Kotor, Tivat and Ulcinj announced at the time that they did not possess documentation confirming the allegations made by the Croatian side - that real estate in the territory of these municipalities had been seized from Croatian families and illegally registered to third parties.
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