Đukanović: The day is approaching when democratic pro-European forces will once again take responsibility for the successful leadership of Montenegro

It is obvious that those who believed in 2020 that with the departure of the government that led the restoration of independent Montenegro, its destiny and ideas would be divided were mistaken. It is clear that the idea of ​​independence was neither a personal nor a party project, but that its real owner is Montenegro, and that history is the place of its birth, assessed the former President and Prime Minister of Montenegro and former leader of the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) Milo Đukanović.

According to Pobjeda, last night at the Ceremonial Academy, organized by the DPS in Nikšić on the occasion of 20 years since the restoration of independence, he pointed out that after the change of government in 2020, space was opened in Montenegro for a stronger influence of retrograde ideologies, which led to a standstill of all development policies.

"The problem is not in the change of government, because changes are usually beneficial for the progress of any society. Especially after a long period of government, as was the case in our country. I believe that the change of government in Montenegro through democratic, peaceful means six years ago is not only the first, but one of the most valuable democratic achievements in its entire history. The problem, unfortunately, is that in these changes we got an incompetent government, uncommitted to state and national interests," Đukanović pointed out.

He also said that it is the last moment to realize our responsibility for the state of Montenegro today.

"The return to a state of political normality is solely our responsibility. The citizens of Montenegro have supported the current government, and it is up to them to thank it. In a relatively short period of less than six years, the current parliamentary majority has, not verbally, but in action, demonstrated so many destructive, revisionist intentions to turn civil Montenegro into a Serbian state, to transform anti-fascist Montenegro into a state that does not distinguish between treason and the fight for freedom, to return secular Montenegro to the era of theocratic rule; to keep European and Euro-Atlantic Montenegro under the umbrella of Russia. We are proud that we, even from the opposition ranks, have shown strength and thwarted such their intentions. The day is approaching when democratic pro-European forces whose credo is anti-fascism and the building of a civil society will once again take responsibility for the successful leadership of Montenegro, a democratic state of the rule of law and human rights and freedoms, in line with modern European society," said Đukanović, reported Pobjeda.

Đukanović emphasized that the restoration of Montenegro's independence on May 21, 2006, was one of the most significant and striking events in its millennial history and that it marked the beginning of a modern era in Montenegro's long history and statehood, which corrected a great historical injustice.

"The restoration of independence in the democratic referendum of 2006 has a special importance. First of all, because it was not accompanied by human sacrifices, nor did this goal, as always before, have to be fought with weapons. For the first time in Montenegrin history, independence was restored in a democratic manner, by the will of the majority, without endangering those who remained in the minority. This is, without a doubt, a curiosity not only of Montenegrin but also of Balkan political history, which today elevates the name of Montenegro even more among nations and states, and which demonstrates our historical emancipation," said Đukanović.

He also said that the greatness of the restoration of independence in 2006 was that the aspiration for independence was not based on a national or nationalistic idea, as was often the case in the Balkans.

"The aspiration for independence was primarily motivated by the desire of the majority of Montenegrin society to independently manage its state house and its European future, and not to impose its dominance on anyone or to secure a privileged position. Unlike many other sovereignist movements in the region, the Montenegrin one was not a movement of one nation. It was a movement of citizens of all religions and nationalities living in Montenegro. In the political history of this part of Europe, we truly do not have such an example of unity and harmony around a single idea. Therefore, we can say that May 21, 2006, was the highest expression of the civic being of Montenegro, without which there is no democratic, just, free and European Montenegro," Đukanović emphasized.

He said that, like all great achievements of a society, the renewed Montenegrin independence is encountering resistance and challenges in its new life.

"All the more so because Montenegrin independence is not just a political state, but also an environment that imposes new values ​​on Montenegrin society, primarily democratic, civic and European. That is why the resistance and challenges to an independent Montenegro are simultaneously resistance to the emancipation and Europeanization of its society, that is, resistance to a new Montenegro. It is precisely the restoration of independence that affirmed and builds a different awareness and a different attitude towards Montenegro and its interests and aspirations. Everything that the restored Montenegro has done in these 20 years confirms the justification of such a commitment," concluded Đukanović.