Vice President of the Parliament Nikola Camaj The day before yesterday, he shared a video on Facebook from a recent concert in Gusinje, showing a flag with a map of the so-called Greater Albania, but he claims that he did not do it to support any political idea, but rather the young people who were punished for displaying that symbol.
Several concerts have been held at Ali Pasha Square in Gusinje in recent days. The police announced the day before yesterday that they were against DD (28) and VB (19) from Gusinje filed a request to initiate misdemeanor proceedings because, allegedly, they displayed the disputed flag at a concert held on August 3rd.
The Higher State Prosecutor's Office in Bijelo Polje assessed that there were no elements of a criminal offense in the incident.
According to several Albanian-language media outlets, Balidemaj Hearth is one of those against whom misdemeanor proceedings have been initiated. She said that the day after the event, she was summoned to the police to give a statement, adding that none of the Albanians who are in what she called "Albanian" parties reacted.
"Because they have no courage, since they are under the rule of Montenegrins, among whom they also operate within the parties. I waved the flag. I waved it proudly, in honor of the heroes and the Albanian people, on my land, which I have the right to do. We are an indigenous people, not strangers in our own land. According to them, the 'Sandžak' flag is not a provocation, even though Sandžak, as such, does not exist in the first place and they do not even know who that flag belongs to," she said, the media reported.
Camaj shared a recording from the concert, along with a message in Albanian: "Fire, as your name is fire, may you live long for us."
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Unilateral application of regulations
Camaj told "Vijesti" that the reason for his announcement was "the event itself and the positive atmosphere", and not any individual symbol that could be found in the frame.
"In that sense, the announcement should not be interpreted as support for any divisions or conflicts, or any political idea, but rather as a depiction of a public gathering that took place in peace and good spirits, without a single incident," he told the newspaper.
According to him, at large public gatherings, one can often see different symbols and features that provoke different emotions or disagreements among individual citizens. This, he added, is not specific to just one nation or one community, but is a phenomenon that accompanies different gatherings and different identities.
"If everyone were punished for these incidents, there would certainly be a large number of Montenegrin residents. The punishment of two young people is an additional reason for my reposting the video from the convicted girl's page," Camaj said.
He added that he believes that this way of acting by the competent authorities leaves the impression of unilateral application of the law.
"If there is a need to sanction the display of certain symbols at public gatherings, then it is necessary that the same standards are applied consistently in all cases, regardless of which symbol or which community is involved. Personally, I do not believe that these phenomena should be punished. But if there is, then only equal and impartial application of the law can contribute to citizens' trust in institutions," said Camaj.
State borders regulated by law
The Deputy Speaker of the Parliament emphasized that Montenegro builds its greatest value on mutual respect, respect for diversity and fostering multiethnic harmony, and that this is precisely why mutual differences should be seen as a wealth that connects, and not as a reason for division.
Asked whether he supports the so-called Greater Albania, Camaj replied to "Vijesti" that issues of state borders are regulated by international law and agreements, and that, as a result, internationally recognized borders cannot and should not be viewed through the prism of political messages or individual symbols displayed at public gatherings.
"That is why I believe that the focus should be on strengthening mutual trust, preserving stability and building good neighborly relations, which is in the interest of all citizens of Montenegro and the region. By the way, it is known that we have made a full contribution to the creation of an independent Montenegro, and we are also contributing to EU integration," he told the newspaper.
They also punished high school graduates
Camaj told "Vijesti" that in Albania, when a house is built, people put the flag of the country in which they earned the money for it on the building.
He states that during the rule of the Democratic Party of Socialists, "those who raised the flag guaranteed by the Constitution and which was raised for the first time in 500 years on the territory of present-day Montenegro..." were punished.
"But also the graduates from Shkodra because they took pictures on the beach with their flag," he added.
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