Montenegro’s president, Mr Milo Đukanović, said in ‘Around the globe’ TV show, broadcast on Jutarnji.hr portal, that “it is more that obvious that SOC was not only inappropriately involved in the elections, but it was also the most active political actor”. SOC has continuously been, Mr Đukanović said, an instrument of great Serbian nationalism and Russian imperial interests in the Balkans, only this time “it was open about it”.
Parliament of Montenegro is constituted, president was appointed and prime minister-designate has been proposed. In line with the Constitution, it’s your turn now, isn’t it?
With the constitution of the Parliament, legitimization of the election process has entered the final phase. Candidate for the president of the Government has been announced informally. I say informally because there’s one-month deadline for the consultations between the president of the country and leaders of political parties. The government must be formed within the next 90 days.
You did not attend constitutive session. Why?
I was prevented by commitments I took on earlier. That’s a part of protocol anyway. It is more important that we have acknowledged the results of the elections. We’ll do our best to make the transfer of power as easy and smooth as possible.
What’s your comment on the fact that the governing coalition agreed on the division of functions with the mediation of the Metropolitan, Mr Amfilohije?
That’s not unusual. It is more that obvious that SOC was not only inappropriately involved in the elections, but it was also the most active political actor. SOC has continuously been an instrument of great Serbian nationalism and Russian imperial interests in the Balkans, only this time it was open about it. One of the SOC spokespeople said after the elections that SOC would withdraw from political life and this confirmed what I have just stated. However, his superiors disagreed with that. They decided who the holder of that policy will be. That’s our reality, we must face it and preserve Montenegro as civil and secular state with multi-ethnic democracy and European values.
Your statement that you are ready to defend Montenegro not only in the Parliament but also from the woods provoked a storm. Is the situation really that bad that it could lead to civil war?
It is not that bad. Montenegro is the most stable society in the WB. I firmly believe that we can pass this test too. The government changed after 30 years. The opposition, which has never been in power so far, has to adapt and learn. And on the other side, the former government has to learn to act as opposition. That message about fighting in the woods, if necessary, I sent to those who started to interpret the result of the election too simply. There’s a thesis in national and international public that result of the elections has jeopardized Montenegrin state. These elections were not about the state. The decision on the state was brought 14 years ago. But if anybody from Montenegro and the region believes that change of power can jeopardize our country, then they must know that we will defend it. Therefore, it was not a foreboding or expression of the present reality.
Major geopolitical games have been played in the Balkans for centuries. How real is the speculation over Serbia’s compensation for the loss of Kosovo with concessions related to Montenegro and Republika Srpska?
Everything is changing really fast on global scene, expect for that unfavorable Balkan reality. That’s one of Balkan misconceptions, wrong perceptions. The Balkan region has always been on the front line of different global interests. Several years ago, we were target of Russian interests that wanted to prevent Montenegro from acceding NATO. We can’t rule out the possibility that great Serbian interests have not been fulfilled yet. So far, I haven’t heard any relevant Belgrade address denying this. The process of Kosovo’s accession to UN is underway, and those who cherish great Serbian aspirations could believe there’s some sort of compensation. But these are all illusions.
Leaders of the governing bloc signed the joint statement in which they claim they will not change Montenegro’s foreign policy. Do you know how that resonated with the West?
That way, they gave us greatest recognition. Did that surprise somebody in the West? Of course not, because that agreement was initiated by the West. They would not make such salto mortale without suggestion of the west. I am more prone to believe acts not words. We’ve heard some saying Montenegro is free after 75 years. In 1945, Montenegro was free from fascism and also from Serbian occupation that started in 1918.
You openly accused Serbia of meddling into the election process in Montenegro and of expressing verbal and political aggression. Have you talked about that with Mr Aleksandar Vučić?
There is almost no Serbian official who has not directly and brutally interfered in the political life of Montenegro and in the election process. There’s no dilemma that Serbia provided logistics support for great Serbia nationalism in Montenegro. I have talked with Serbia’s president recently and pointed to that, but his reply was covered in the cloak of worry for the endangered rights of Serbian minorities in neighboring countries. I had an impression that Mr Vučić has taken some actions towards media, which resulted in slight relief of aggression.
What will be the co-habitation like? In Croatia, we enjoy very stable and firm co-habitation. Will it be even firmer in Montenegro?
It will be normal co-habitation, at least as far as I’m concerned.
It will be challenging anyway, because Mr Aleksa Bečić asked you to resign a couple of days ago.
Anyone can ask for my resignation, and I can ask him to resign right now. I am legitimately elected president of this country, I am very proud of everything we have achieved and I think we should keep going the same way. Nobody will threaten my functioning as president.
