Šćekić: Instead of blackmailing and disrespecting, Plenkovic should apologize to Montenegrin victims and compensate Lora camp inmates

The leader of the People's Trust Movement (PNP), Dragoslav Dado Šćekić, assessed that Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković took a blackmailing stance during the EU-Western Balkans Summit and sent messages that represented disrespect towards Montenegro.

Šćekić stated that the EU-Western Balkans Summit is one of the most significant political events in the last few decades, and that the arrival of the heads of state demonstrated the importance and role of Montenegro for the European continent, and especially for the region. According to the PNP leader, Montenegro has proven to be a good host, but not all guests were equally at the same level in his opinion.

"Majority Montenegro has shown that it is ready to be a good host and that we are capable of organizing events at the highest level. If the host country makes an effort to be a good host, then, by nature of things, it is also necessary for the guest to be at the level of respect for the house in which he is staying, regardless of what is on the agenda. Neighboring, brotherly and friendly countries should have special consideration, which could be heard, except in one case, where the Prime Minister of Croatia took advantage of the situation to express a blackmailing attitude and show disrespect towards Montenegro, which is a continuation and continuity of statements by officials from neighboring Croatia, which, unfortunately, do not indicate a desire or need to build mutual respect and friendly relations," Šćekić emphasized in a press release.

He emphasized that, in contrast, Montenegro has shown, in Šćekić's assessment - very often and without complexes, by overcoming its own spite and willingness to start a fight, that it truly wants to overcome some ugly moments from the past and turn to a common future in the European Union, so that some difficult things from the past will be distant for our future generations.

"However, yesterday, Mr. Plenković expressed a blackmailing attitude, great disrespect for Montenegro, and even the intention to humiliate Montenegro and our hospitality, abusing his role, that is, the role of Croatia on Montenegro's path to the European Union. Asking to change the name of the Kotor swimming pool is, to say the least, cynical, and making the late Džimi Gopčević into something he was not without any evidence is beyond all codes and an indicator that he consciously wants to obstruct, but also shows the intention to make Montenegro renounce its great and honorable people, to break its spirit and backbone, and to show that, if we want Croatia's consent, then we need to break with ourselves," believes Šćekić.

The PNP leader said that since Plenković mentioned the concentration camp inmates, he should have expressed regret and apologized for, as Šćekić put it, the "monstrous events" in Lora towards our citizens and said that Croatia would compensate the families of the victims and the surviving concentration camp inmates, as an attempt to help Montenegro on its European path.

"No, Plenković continued to list the ship Jadran, which is the least of what they received and what they have left from Yugoslavia, which, I repeat, is far from good neighborly relations, and even further from friendly ones. Or he wanted to warn us to understand that they do not want us as friends and not to humiliate ourselves anymore, which is a big issue for both the leadership of Montenegro and every citizen. Prevlaka is a special issue, because Croatia does not essentially care about that piece of land, but rather that, as they think, they can trample on Montenegro, taking away from us not just any piece, but a spiritual piece of land and border, our embrace with the sea and our shield of sovereignty," Šćekić pointed out.

In his opinion, Plenković crossed the line yesterday as both a diplomatic and a well-intentioned neighbor.

"Giving himself the right to blackmail us at home and tell us whatever he wants, because he understood his position, our dependence on Croatia and our readiness and desire to be part of the European Community too roughly, he deliberately, at an event like this, announced that everything is in vain if we do not fulfill his demands," he added.

Šćekić said that the EU must have a response to this kind of behavior and barriers.

"Because, if it wants us in the community, then it also has an obligation to preserve our dignity. But first and foremost, we have to do that ourselves, because it is not wise to accept everything. That would be trading our tradition in order to live with more opportunities and money in our pockets, and other nations have not allowed that, regardless of size and number. We want to join Europe, but not humiliatingly, but proudly, and we are aware that much must and should change, but not to destroy the essence," he concluded.