Croatia supports reform processes and all steps that contribute to Montenegro's rapprochement with the European Union (EU), said Croatian Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlić Radman, adding that he expects the issue of property restitution to more than 50 Croatian families in Tivat to be resolved.
Grlić Radman is staying in Kotor, as part of the celebration of the Day of the Croatian People in Montenegro, where he will participate in the Ceremonial Academy of the Boka Bay Navy.
At a press conference with Montenegrin Foreign Minister Ervin Ibrahimovic, he pointed out the significance of handing over the "Josip Markovic" Home in Donja Lastva to the Croatian National Council.
"We are glad that the Boka people have integrated their Croatian cultural heritage into the unique heritage of Montenegro and that they are contributing to the multi-ethnicity, coexistence and prosperity of Montenegro," said Grlić Radman.
He emphasized Croatia's support for Montenegro's European and NATO perspective.
"NATO membership unites Europe and North America into a single security and defense alliance, and in this we share common values, where we strengthen defense through the military industry, innovation, and other institutions, because the key to security is precisely investment in the defense industry," said Grlić Radman.
He said that, in the field of security and defense, Croatia and Montenegro represent a good example of countries that act as loyal members of NATO.
When it comes to Montenegro's European perspective, Grlić Radman said that Croatia strongly supports the reform process and all steps that contribute to Montenegro's approach to the EU.
"Certain bilateral issues remain open as a result of the collapse of the former state. They are not only of a bilateral nature, but are also civilizational, universal issues," stated Grlić Radman.
He said that today he met with representatives of 51 Tivat families who, as he stated, had their property seized and cannot be registered in the cadastral municipality of Mrčevac.
Grlić Radman emphasized that this is a civilizational issue and the rule of law, recalling that the courts in Kotor, Podgorica and the Administrative Court have ruled in favor of the families, but that the registration process in the cadastral municipality of Mrčevac has not yet been fully implemented.
"I think that through cooperation between the two governments, or rather judicial bodies, we will certainly achieve progress. In the end, it is the rule of law, it is Chapter 23 and the condition for closing the restitution benchmarks," said Grlić Radman.
He recalled other cases of restitution, including the Trpković and Dabinović families.
"The handover of the House is the first important step in resolving outstanding issues. We expect to see this support also when it comes to protecting minority rights and returning the property of Tivat families," added Grlić Radman.
When asked by journalists to what extent Croatia is prepared to block the closing of certain chapters if the resolution of open issues with Montenegro does not proceed as planned, Grlić Radman replied that he would never talk about blocking, because it is only a matter of whether the country has fulfilled something or not.
He said that Montenegro should work on fulfilling the criteria, just as Croatia did during its negotiations with the EU.
Grlić Radman added that they ended the negotiations the moment they met all the criteria.
"In that sense, it is in the strategic and national interest to have a stable, secure, prosperous Montenegro as a good neighbor," said Grlić Radman.
Asked how he would comment on the fact that Defense Minister Dragan Krapović was appointed to head the delegation that will lead negotiations on open issues with Croatia, he said that it was up to the Montenegrin government to decide who to appoint, but that it was important to start talking.
Responding to the question of whether there have been any new talks about the ship Jadran, Grlić Radman reminded that the Croatian Government has established a Commission for the return of that ship and that he is its head.
"How will the Government of Montenegro determine that, if it will be Defense Minister Krapović - fine, but it is important that we start those talks and present arguments from both sides," said Grlić Radman.
When asked whether the controversial plaque in Morinje was discussed at the meeting, he said that he did not know why the plaque would be controversial, adding that it reminded him of a difficult period - the collapse of the former state.
"And over 300 of those who were forcibly brought there, tortured, exposed to suffering, abuse, torture. One person was killed before entering Morinj, and three people, as far as I know, died from the consequences of torture, and many later, after the camp was dissolved, died from the consequences of torture," said Grlić Radman.
Responding to a journalist's question, he said that Lora was a military prison in the former state.
"It remained a military prison even later. If there were any there, and it was certain that there were individuals who committed crimes, some are still serving their sentences," said Grlić Radman.
He said that Croatia was facing the rule of law and the prosecution of war crimes, so they fulfilled everything that was required.
Grlić Radman said that they are still searching for 13 or 14 missing persons.
"So we need to get a response from Montenegro on that front as well, and as for the plaque in Morenje, I don't think we have a problem," said Grlić Radman.
Ibrahimović congratulated the Croatian national community in Montenegro on the Day of the Croatian People.
He said that he has always advocated for the emphasis to be on the rights of minorities in Montenegro because, as he said, there cannot be a quality and prosperous Montenegro if it does not have a notable and important pillar represented by minorities.
"Together we are working on a better, more prosperous Montenegro, and today we continue to strengthen good neighborly relations, and friendly Croatia helps us a lot in this," added Ibrahimović.
He said that at the last Intergovernmental Conference between Montenegro and the European Union, which was held on December 16 in Brussels, Croatia gave the green light to close five negotiation chapters.
"So, we have a reliable partner on our European path, and for all those skeptics who are trying to confuse the public that this is not the same Croatia that supported us for NATO, here is confirmation today in a conversation with my dear colleague that Croatia supports Montenegro's European path even more strongly," Ibrahimović said.
He said that, likewise, those in Montenegro are aware that they have obligations towards Croatia and the country's European path, but above all towards future generations.
"We must relieve future generations in both countries of the burden of the past. We can only do that concretely, not through populism, but by taking clear steps. And we are already doing so," Ibrahimović pointed out.
He said that he was happy because, as he stated, significant strides have been made in the past year and a half.
Ibrahimović recalled that bilateral consultations have begun between Montenegro and Croatia on resolving open issues.
"I must emphasize that we really want to improve relations. We have shown this in meetings at the highest level, our presidents have met, our prime ministers, and my colleague and I hardly meet once a month, and we speak on the phone much more often," added Ibrahimović.
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