We are not going to side with Milo Đukanović or any pro-Serbian option, says for DW, Mr Dritan Abazović, leader of URA and “Crno na bijelo” coalition.
Mister Abazović, what’s your opinion on the election result? Is that victory of democracy pf just turning right, in the direction of the alienation of the EU and NATO?
There was a tectonic shift in MNE, something unbelievable. We are the first country in Europe that had no democratic change of power until now. This is very positive. Now we’ll see what will happen with the new government.
As media in the region say, Montenegro’s destiny is in your hands…
We believed we could be game changers and that’s what we have become. We ousted the regime of Milo Đukanović. Lukashenko was also ousted, and that’s an important fact. Montenegro can be peaceful because our policy is pro-European, it is civil and aimed at incorporating European values into our society.
Is it possible to achieve that with the opposition with pro-Russian forces?
I think those theses are wrong. We need to form pro-civil government. There’s no pro-Serbian majority here. The majority of citizens are craving changes.
Your coalition is one of the elements of the scales for the formation of new government. What side will you take: Montenegrin opposition, which is heterogeneous and has pro-Russian forces in it or maybe Mr Đukanović’s socialists?
We are not going to side with Đukanović, because we have dedicated our entire political life to the fight against his regime. That’s one thing. The other is: we are not going to side with pro-Serbian option either. We are going to look for partnerships on the grounds we set before elections. We wanted expert government and our opposition counterparts agreed. Expert government won’t have politicians. Montenegrin course won’t change. We will work together on promoting European agenda and principles we promised.
You have signed with leaders of the opposition a document with four items, stipulating that MNE shall remain on the EU path, in NATO, that shall not be withdrawal of recognition of Kosovo and that minorities shall retain these rights. What are the guarantees that everybody will comply with these provisions?
We are the guarantee of Montenegro’s defense. Of promotion of democratic civil values. WE can guarantee that foreign policy course will remain the same – as long as it depends on us.
Journalist of the German „Frankfurter algemajne cajtung“ asked: “Can members of the opposition, composed of greens and liberals, pro-European reformists and Albanian minority, Putin’s people, Serbian and nationalists and priests, fans of the EU and Mr Trump, form coalition at all? What unites you or connects you to the heterogeneous Montenegrin opposition, apart from the desire to oust Đukanović?
At the moment, only desire to oust Đukanović and fight against organized crime and corruption. All our options are dedicated to European integrations. Through expert government we found a model that is supposed to be transitional and enable free elections in two or four years. I think every person in MNE understands this and, hopefully, everyone in the EU will understand this.
You visited Pljevlja on Monday. Some of the Bosniaks there said that attacks they had suffered were like going back to 1990s. What is the situation like?
Not very good, but I hope it will stabilize. I urged people to stay at home to avoid provocations because that’s what goes in favor of those who want to keep the status quo. What your readers should know is that this is all pretty much fault of the Montenegrin police that do not react. When I was there I met 50 inspectors and it is impossible that no one is able to identify any attacker. I call on authorities and director of police to sanction this as soon as possible.
Have attacks on Bosniaks anything to do with the decision of their political representatives not to accede to the opposition block?
They are welcome to accede. I have said many times that it is very natural to me if minority parties are part of the new majority.
Why are they rejecting?
I can’t tell you that. That’s not question for me. But I know why their leaders would reject it.
Why?
Because they were part of the corruption network established by Đukanović. And now they can’t swap sides just like that. I also think they will run to be part of the government tomorrow when it is certain that the new majority is formed.
Are these attacks threat to peace and stability in Montenegro?
If somebody thought that change of government, for the first time in history, will be celebrated with roses and fanfare, well I think they were mistaken. But people should know that many negative emotions have been accumulating on the other side for 30 years, many people were discriminated. Since we are not country of great democratic tradition, these things surprise us. We are Balkan country, half-private, trapped by several families around Mr Đukanović and we must now take that first and the lowest step towards democracy.
Media have reported scenarios where this is not fight against corruption but rather attempt to seize Montenegro’s independence and turn it into new Vojvodina, or at the very best entity like RS or B&H. Is that exaggeration?
In the Balkans, there’s danger from everything. But I don’t accept fatalistic scenarios. As if a terrible catastrophe happened. I want to believe in better future. We presented a spectacular list, with new and decent people, and we were supported. We should not be focusing on pessimism or fatalism, we should all be optimistic.
Countries in the region and some politicians don’t hide concern. Member of B&H presidency, Mr Željko Komšić, said that incidents in Montenegro were warning for B&H too. What do you say?
As long as things depend on us, they can be relaxed. I talked to some regional politicians. It’s shocking that Đukanović was defeated because no one believed it could happen. And when they finally realize that it did happen, everything will be good. Everybody in the region needs new political elite, We need people who are not slaves of the 1990s. We need people who bring energy and freshness, who are not living in the past and are able to build reconciliation on healthy grounds. There’s no reason for fear anywhere.
