Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić said he was "crucified" after saying he did not want to attend the "glamorous act" of celebrating Montenegro's Independence Day. He said that Serbia respects Montenegro, its citizens and its decision on independence and wishes them every success, but that they should not expect to rejoice in a policy directed against Serbia and the Serbian people.
Vučić also emphasized that he expects official Podgorica to respect the rights of the Serbian people and the Serbian language.
The President of Serbia said yesterday that he had received an invitation to participate in a "glamorous celebration" of the 20th anniversary of Montenegro's independence, but that he would not go to the event because it would be "spitting in the face of himself and his people."
"Although I did not offend anyone, I did not utter a single bad word, I did not threaten anything, as is customary, in almost all Montenegrin media, just a few hours later, I was crucified, because as the President of Serbia, I do not have the right to my free stance, to my opinion and to act differently than expected. It only took a few hours for the guardians of Montenegrin and Greater Montenegrin thought to, for the umpteenth time, find the culprit for everything in me," the Serbian president said in an address to Montenegrin citizens via the Borba portal.
He added that this is not about him, but about Serbia and the daily attacks on Serbia.
"For decades, if not years, we have been hearing stories about Serbia's interference in all affairs in Montenegro, political pressures on a daily basis, the desire to expand our territory at the expense and detriment of Montenegro, propagating Greater Serbian and anti-Montenegrin ideas, threatening the statehood of Montenegro, but due to the heroic resistance of Podgorica, we are unable to do so. We hear how Serbia is collapsing, Belgrade is sinking, not because of those who move from Montenegro, in thousands, to that hateful city every year, but because of Vučić's criminal and corrupt government. How are we interfering and what are we threatening Montenegro with?" Vučić asked.
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He said that Serbia accepted every decision of the citizens of Montenegro in a democratic and civilized manner - from the referendum on independence to joining NATO.
"Your right, your decisions. We are different, that's true. You didn't bother us, we saw you as sisters and brothers and wanted to live in the same country with you. I admit, we are guilty, and I apologize for loving you more than you loved us. We don't mind that you are proud of your NATO membership, we didn't say a word to you, we mind that you don't like that we like to protect and defend our country ourselves, that we don't want to forget the killing of our children and people in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and that we want to be militarily neutral," the Serbian president said.
He said that they do not mind the fact that in Montenegro there is talk every day about Serbia's interference in the internal affairs of Montenegro, and in the Montenegrin public space they do not deal with anything other than Serbia.
"I believe I don't need to remind you that you talked more about the Jovanjica case, deceiving and lying to your own public on a daily basis, than you wrote about the crimes of the two largest criminal clans on European soil, the Kavači and the Škaljari, because, I guess, the Kavači and the Škaljari are villages in the vicinity of Kragujevac, not Kotor. I won't even talk about providing a complete media-political platform for implementing a colored revolution in Serbia. I won't even talk about the presence of Montenegrin politicians at demonstrations against the Serbian authorities. That was just as popular, just as the excursions and recreational classes for elementary and high school students. I am glad, of course, that those excursions ended with sobering up from the political hangover, but we didn't do that to you, but the other way around," Vučić believes.
Every day, the Serbian President added, we hear about how Serbia is threatening Montenegrin independence, but the facts say otherwise.
"Serbia, in fact, respects the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Montenegro and has never questioned it. At the same time, just two years after leaving the state union with Serbia, Montenegro is destroying and violating the Charter of the United Nations and participating in the seizure of Kosovo and Metohija from Serbia by recognizing the independence of Kosovo. To make matters worse, you expect us to be happy about it and never say anything to you about it. And we have been so silent and will continue to be silent that you will soon start explaining to us that this decision was, in fact, made in accordance with the interests of Serbia, which is friendly to you. And we will lower our heads and say to you: thank you for taking us into the future, because our stupid policy only took us back to the past. Not to mention those political scoundrels who are preaching to us from Podgorica about Serbian patriotism, because Serbia would have to go to war with the whole world because of Kosovo, but their Montenegro is not even allowed to write about making a different decision on the legal status of Kosovo. They are not so brave anymore, "Not so in love with the crucified Kosovo. By the way, I regret it, but I also kept quiet about the highest officials of Montenegro who openly say in front of foreigners that Montenegro has an equally good relationship with all of us, some warring tribes from the Balkans there, i.e. Kurti and Vučić are the same, except that, when I turn my head, Serbia and Vučić turn out to be the only problem," Vučić said.
He said that Serbia did not seize 14 percent of Montenegrin territory, that it did not claim Pljevlja, Berane, or any other place in Montenegro, nor will it.
He pointed out that Serbia has never accused Montenegro or anyone in Montenegro of genocide, while politicians from Montenegro have passed resolutions three times about the genocide allegedly committed by Serbs.
"Once wasn't enough, it had to be three times. By the way, Serbia believes that Zoran Gopčević deserved to have the pool named after him, Serbia believes that the victims of Lore deserve justice, Serbia is not even asking you for the ship Jadran that King Alexander built, nor will we ask for Prevlaka, so for all that we do not deserve your respect, but contempt. You are right, but we are not going to change our policy, friendly and brotherly, even when you tell foreigners that, regardless of the investment offer, you will never give Serbia the management of the port of Bar, and that everyone else is welcome, even though it is clear to a layman that this port can only survive economically if Serbia relies on it," Vučić is convinced.
He said that he wishes Montenegro every success.
"Despite the fact that every meeting of Montenegrin officials begins and ends with Montenegro pointing out the difference between itself and Serbia, because Serbia, which is under the malignant influence of Russia, did not want to impose sanctions on this world evil, and Serbia is very large and Europe would have to give Serbia a lot of money through funds, which is not very convenient, but it is convenient when someone is small, and then the money is probably not large. We wish you all the best in Europe, in NATO, wherever you want. And we will congratulate you on everything. And rejoice in your successes. Just don't make us rejoice in the policy and results of the policy that is directed against Serbia and the Serbian people. We are all kinds of things, we are not masochists," Vučić said.
He reiterated that Serbia respects the decision made by the citizens of Montenegro in the referendum.
"All we ask of you is that, when it comes to the Serbian language and Serbian national characteristics, you show respect for a third of your population, at least as much as you show towards the members and political representatives of those peoples who have become your fellow brothers and helpers on the European path. That's all. And nothing more. Long live the friendship between Serbia and Montenegro!", Vučić concluded.
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