We need to understand that Montenegro has never “skipped” the first stair of democratic development which is – change of power in the elections. In other words, until the last elections, Montenegro was the only country in Europe that has never changed power in a peaceful and democratic way in its parliamentary history. In that context, a very important step forward has been taken, because our citizens have finally returned their sovereignty and have felt for the first time that their vote really matters, says in the interview for ‘Danas’ Mr Dritan Abazović, president of URA while answering the question related to the accusations that he is legitimizing great Serbian project.
On the other side, it’s completely logical that the opposition is extremely heterogeneous in a society in which DPS has been ruling for three decades, while creating and cherishing ethnic and national tensions.
“However, although ideologically heterogeneous, new parliamentary majority has already demonstrated great level of maturity, with the adoption of the Agreement which obliged all parties to continue to purse Montenegro’s foreign policy course, commit to strong EU integration and respect obligations of NATO membership. The new government won’t deal with particular interests of any party. It will deal with major problems DPS has left behind, primarily in the economy and fight against accumulated corruption and crime. We’re glad that all parties have accepted our new concept of expert Government”, Mr Abazović said.
Is the information that your coalition claims authority in the services of the future government true? Is it real that you can change the security system with your expert government and how do you intend to do that?
Mr Abazović: URA is the only constituent of this new Government that has openly advocated for NATO membership and whose policy has always been EU-oriented. In that sense, it’s logical that URA has an impact on the selection of staff members in security sector and to insist on the appointment of the best and most competent experts. We won’t allow anybody to gamble with Montenegro’s interests.
Do you really plan to dismantle security services, the octopus of the existing regime?
Abazović: The challenges that lie ahead are big and very complex, but we have no dilemma that the reform of the security services is the key prerequisite for efficient fight against crime and corruption. Everybody knows that security services are non-democratic regimes are often used more for tracking political dissidents and critics of the regime than for protecting national security and fighting crime. It is, therefore, necessary to change that from the root if we want Montenegro to successfully implement necessary reforms and become the next EU member state.
We’ve seen recently that new political movements which promote and represent ideas of social justice, democratization, ecological sustainability, solidarity and gender equality have achieved significant results in MNE and Croatia. Is there potential for cooperation with Croatia’s National Security?
Mr Abazović: The tendency of the movements you mentioned to grow stronger, the movements whose policy is based on the green-left ideas that make senseless the established ethnic-national patterns that have been shaping the public discourse in region countries for decades, makes anyone who really wants to get out of the 1990s politics happy.
URA and ‘Black and white’ platform have led to that quality change and have reconciled warring factions in MNE. I believe there will be room for closer cooperation among the three groups, because everything is based on similar program and ideological foundations.
Do you believe in the wider wave of change that the organization of the politics and parties similar to you might bring to the region?
Mr Abazović: Absolutely! Our region deserves more and can do more, especially in democratization of institutions and overcoming numerous social divisions. I believe that time is yet to come. Montenegro’s experience is the best example that no one is untouchable and invincible and that changes are possible. New people will reconcile Montenegro and they can reconcile the region too. It is high time we left the matrix of the pas. Freedom is here, let’s take it!
