Aleksić: I asked for a monument to Đurišić to unmask the discriminatory policies of the DPS

Deputy Prime Minister of the Government of Montenegro for Education, Science and Relations with Religious Communities Budimir Aleksić said that he requested the erection of a monument to Chetnik commander Pavle Đurišić in order to "unmask the discriminatory policy of the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS)."

He announced this at today's parliamentary session, where MPs asked him questions.

DPS MP Jevto Eraković referred to yesterday's claims by Prime Minister Milojko Spajić (Europe Now Movement - PES) that the agreement that DPS signed with United Russia in 2011 states that the strongest opposition party will block Montenegro's EU integration if it is in Russia's interest.

"Let's see if we are truly a state and a people that values ​​our word and face, but it seems that the easiest thing to do is to lose our word and face for the sake of political office," he said.

This comment provoked outrage from the Deputy Speaker of the Parliament, Boris Pejović (PES).

Eraković recalled that Aleksić advocated for the erection of a monument to Đurišić.

"After yesterday, I think there was no better interlocutor than Deputy Prime Minister Aleksić to truly portray the coalition partner of Prime Minister Spajić - his relationship towards Russia, the Chetnik movement, and Croatia... Namely, the Deputy Prime Minister did not want to answer the question I asked, and said that, while engaged in his scientific and research work, he would explain his position on the erection of a monument to Pavle Đurišić in an oral answer. What is his position, considering that earlier, in 2017, he was one of the protagonists of the policy to erect that monument in Berane and sent a public appeal to the then President of the Municipality of Berane from this Assembly. Let's see what his position is on the erection of the memorial plaque in Morinje, what his position is towards the Montenegrin nation and the Montenegrin church, considering that he is the Vice President for Religious Affairs," said the DPS MP.

He added that Aleksić was opposed to Montenegro's entry into NATO, as well as European integration, and that he said that it was "the path to high treason."

Eraković also pointed out that Spajić, after the DPS and United Russia agreement was announced, must apologize to DPS, but also that this "matrix is ​​similar to the one from 1914 when the press wrote that King Nikola signed an agreement with Austria."

Pejović said that the strongest opposition party is demanding an apology for what Spajić said, and what was confirmed today - that they have an agreement.

He recalled that former DPS president Milo Đukanović claimed that "the EU is not a young bride to be rushed to."

Eraković responded that at that time, among others, the party of former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder (SPD) also had an agreement with United Russia.

Pejović pointed out that "the prime minister claimed that DPS has an annex to the agreement," without knowing which agreement DPS presented today, but that they admitted that they have such an act with United Russia.

Eraković recalled that Spajić was asked yesterday whether he would resign if all negotiation chapters with the EU were not closed this year, to which he did not respond.

"Imagine, Mr. Pejović, if I were to say now that you have some kind of contract with the BIA and that there is some secret document according to which you, as the Vice President of the Parliament, are trying to destroy the part of the PES that is pro-Montenegrin and that must in no way turn away from the true European path of Montenegro. Imagine if I were to say that, but we won't because we don't deal in fabrications," he said.

Pejović said that he had been thinking about it, and that "some elements close to the DPS wrote about it."

Aleksić responded that a major lecture would be needed on the questions Eraković asked him, but that he was ready for that.

"All my views on these topics are contained in my scientific works," he said, showing his bibliography.

When it comes to Pavle Đurišić, he said that in science there is a term "gray lie" - when something is partially true.

"The context was the discrimination of the DPS and the former regime against the Serbian people. Everyone could erect monuments throughout Montenegro, representatives of other peoples, only the Serbs were prevented... I not only invited the then president (Dragoslav) Šćekić to erect a monument to Đurišić, but also the president of the Municipality of Plužine, Mijuško Bajagić, to erect a monument to Mitar Pejović, commander of the Yugoslav army detachment in the homeland. But Pejović is less attractive and you cannot refer to him, you only mention Đurišić," he said.

He added that he is ready to present his views and give a lecture on Slovenes, Muslims, Roman Catholics in the Chetnik movement, as well as the attitude of Harry Truman and Charles de Gaulle towards that movement.

When it comes to the plaque in Morinje, Aleksić said that it "shows a summary of the Croatian view of the wars in the former Yugoslavia."

"It is clear that Milo Đukanović was scared of the Hague Tribunal, lost his mind and switched to Croatian positions. The only thing missing there is the name of Milo Đukanović. He was the president of the Montenegrin wartime government. That government had a Ministry of Defense, he called up reservists and, as he said, 'all sincere patriots'. He said that he hated chess because of chess. And when I see Morinj, I remember our great martyrs from Lora who deserve to be canonized," he said.

Aleksić: I respect every national commitment, I belonged to the democratic movement in the 80s

Speaking about the Montenegrin nation, Aleksić said that "as a member of an eminently democratic and European party, he recognizes every national orientation."

"Anyone who wants to declare themselves in any way - as a Montenegrin, as a Bokelj, as a Herzegovinian, as an Old Herzegovinian, I have no problem with that. I know what Montenegrins were like until 1945. Here is a textbook from the time of the Principality of Montenegro where it says that all Montenegrins belong to the Serbian people. That is a textbook from the time of the Principality and Kingdom of Montenegro that talks about our ethnicity. You have renounced that and that is your right. I am not stopping you from declaring yourself however you want," he said.

"You made up that I said that Montenegro's accession to the EU is treason par excellence, but you signed an agreement with Putin's party that states that if Montenegro's entry into the EU conflicts with Russia's interests, you will follow Russia's policy. Don't tell me, who as a student in the 1980s belonged to the democratic movement at Belgrade University and advocated for a multi-party system, a market economy, freedom of the media, a multi-party system, while your leader Milo Đukanović said that if Montenegro was the only free island in the sea of ​​Turkish tyranny for 500 years, it would also remain the only island of communism in Europe. He said that in 1991, two years after the fall of the Berlin Wall," Aleksić said.

He pointed out that monuments to Pavle Đurišić, Draža Mihailović, and Momčilo Đujić exist in the USA, Canada, and Australia, and that these are not "Nazi states," but states "to which we aspire."

Eraković said that "all of Aleksić's scientific work was hidden behind an armchair"

"It would be good if your coalition partners read your papers. I would urge you to invite your partners and give them a lecture," he said.

He also recalled that during the DPS rule, a monument to Božidar Vuković from Podgorica was erected, with the inscription "the first Serbian printer".

"This is a policy that can sometimes go one way, sometimes the other. Today you clearly showed what you think about the issues that burdened Montenegro. Issues that were not raised by the DPS, but by you by erecting a monument to Pavle Đurišić," he said.

He also recalled the epistles of Saint Peter of Cetinje, in which he calls on Montenegrins "not to be someone else's broom and shovel and not to break down thresholds."