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Hodžić: Events in the region can help but also slowdown our European path

Zuvdija Hodžić

In an interview with Dnevne Novine daily (holiday edition), President of SUBNOR and antifascists of Montenegro and CANU academician, Zuvdija Hodžić, recalled the heroic, first anti-fascist uprising in Europe – the Montenegrin uprising that happened on July 13, 1941. He was also speaking about the current situation in the “neighborhood” and at the global plan, the challenges ahead of Montenegro on its European path, the need for more efficient state action in eliminating any return to the anti-Montenegrin politics …

Here are some highlights of the interview with Mr Hodžić …

DN: Statehood Day, July 13th, is a kind of vertical of Montenegrin statehood and unites two important dates from the 19th and 20th centuries. How do we celebrate it today, in the 21st century?

HODŽIĆ:

July 13th is our biggest holiday and we celebrate it accordingly. If there were any justice in the world, having in mind its importance, it should be an international, European Day against fascism. We did not use its phenomenon to further promote and affirm it as it deserves.

At the central celebration in Danilovgrad, we will remind the people that we built a monument to Tito in Podgorica; to Ljubo Cupic and the Montenegrin committees in Nikšić, that we were at Neretva, Sutjeska, Drvar, Jajce, Kumrovac, that we enjoy the highest reputation among the fighting organizations in the former Yugoslav Republics and that we are extremely respected by the European associations of veterans and anti-fascists. So, we are celebrating it in a festive atmosphere, a partisan Montenegro, while being in a pretty complex international situation.

DN: After the statehood gained at the Berlin Congress in 1878, Montenegro as the state was “erased” in 1918 by the decisions of the so-called Podgorica Assembly? At the end of last year, however, Montenegro celebrated the 100th anniversary of this anti-Montenegrin act. Your comment?

HODŽIĆ: From the Berlin Congress to the Podgorica Assembly, that is, for 30 years, Montenegro, thanks to its old, and, in many ways, obsolete King Nikola, his unrealistic ambitions and the lack of understanding of the international opportunities and interests, let the Podgorica Assembly to verify its disappearance.

Propaganda was more powerful tool than machine guns – the Nazi ideologists used to say. It turned out to be proven by celebrating others’ victories and their own defeats.

DN: It’s been 13 years since Montenegro regained its independence. On the international plan, Montenegro is a respected state, but there are still political and clerical entities that deny both the Montenegrin nation and the Montenegrin state. How do you explain this?

HODŽIĆ: The fact that Montenegro is respected internationally does not mean it is beyond the geopolitical, military, religious and other interests and plans of the world’s leading forces, and some other parties as well. It’s nothing new.

DN: These days we are witnesses of numerous discussions on the new Law on Freedom of Religion. Despite the positive opinion of the Venice Commission, the SPC and its close pro-Serb parties are against a solution according to which the state should be returned the property practically taken from it in 1918. Why so much fuss about this legal solution?

HODŽIĆ: Montenegro is a secular state, religious communities are separated by the law, which is good for both and represents the confirmation of the democratic, ethical and ideological maturity of Montenegrin society established on the partisan, not to say the communist foundations.

Of course, the Serbian Orthodox Church, SPC, will defend its wealth and not faith by “life to the last monk”.

The EU is not ideal, but it has huge potentials

DN: Some tensions within the EU and strengthening of the populist and nationalist forces in Europe are slowing down the Montenegrin integration, although Montenegro is well ahead of all other candidates in the region. Do you think we will enter the EU in due course?

HODŽIĆ: What do you mean by saying “in due course“? A year, five, ten years? Montenegro’s EU membership is likely to happen and we will be in Europe because it is in its interest as well. The EU is not ideal, but Montenegro’s EU membership would be the best for it, having in mind all the circumstances.

Montenegro’s NATO membership is also an advantage. NATO’s support has been more and more evident, on the external and internal plan as well. The participation of the Montenegrin Army in international missions contributes to its reputation and ability to respond to all tasks.

I am sure the Montenegrin people need the Montenegrin church

DN: It is a little illogical, but today only Orthodox Montenegrins do not have their own church. Can the renewal of the autocephalous CPC be seen as rounding up of the Montenegrin identity and the state corps?

HODŽIĆ: If Orthodox churches are called by the state, and if the state exists and takes care of itself, it would be logical that the church, as an academy, for example, and as other institutions, is called after it. We from SUBNOR and antifascists are showing respect and understanding for the state and political leadership of Montenegro, as we know they are working in the interest of Montenegro and that it’s not easy for them, but we also disapprove of their attitude towards the Serbian Orthodox Church, especially towards the Montenegrin Orthodox Church. They let one to do whatever it wanted and prevented the other one to enter into its own monasteries.

The Academic Community “is minding its own business”

DN: Did the Montenegrin institutions and the academic community give sufficient contribution to strengthening Montenegrin identity and Montenegro as a civil state?

HODŽIĆ: Perhaps the answer to this question would be an explanation of the “inner enemy” phenomenon. National, or nationalistic, counterrevolutionary, neo-fascist and neo-Chetnik forces are carrying out attacks. The state does not react; it is not yet legal or civil. It cannot make decisions, adopt laws, without implementing them…

Institutions are closed, social differences are pretty great, crime rate is rising, morale is falling, recruitment for important positions is not merit-based but rather ‘politically-backed’. All this affects the Academic Community and the intellectuals so that they just “sit down and mind their own business”.

 

 

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