Sweeping controversial issues under the carpet or using them for national and daily political topics isn’t just the characteristic of the current government, but it’s also the constituent part of the Montenegrin mentality. History of the 1990s has been neglected and that has to be changed, said Mr Miloš Vukanović, historian and coordinator of the History Professors Association.
He presented the analysis “How we see 1990s” yesterday in the premises of the Center for Civil Education, conducted by the association with the aim of changing approach to history teaching and presenting post-Yugoslav countries.
“This material is a product of longtime work of the Association. Methodical recommendations and additional education facilities are result of regional team of historians, history teachers and methodists of history teaching”, explained Mr Vukanović.
Our education system is trying to neglect the education about wars and crimes that followed the breakup of Yugoslavia.
“Montenegrin society finds it easier to sweep bad things and elements from the past under the carpet than to face them. That’s the continuity of not being able to face the past”, pointed out Mr Vukanović.
He said that the analysis they had carried out could be regarded as manual.
“The first part is dedicated to the history review since the beginning of 1990s until 2006. It presents short chapters about all crimes committed in the territory of Montenegro. This review is followed by another review – of the sufferings of Montenegrin citizens during this period”, says Mr Vukanović.
According to Mr Igor Radulović, history professor, 1990s period has been neglected in many ways.
“European Commission highlighted in one of its reports the importance of history teaching in a post-war society, as it is one of the categories that should contribute to overcoming “ghosts of the past”. In that context, 1990s wars must not be neglected”, said Mr Radulović.
He pointed out that every intellectual and professor should emphasize this issue.
Historian Radovan Popović said that history was becoming “the torturer of life”.
“Hopefully, younger generations will be able to open the door to all processes in the way that is characteristic for history”, said Mr Popović.
