Good morning! Happy Independence Day to those who celebrate. Montenegro marks 18 years since it has restored independence. The country is being run by those who opposed its independence back in 2006. And that’s okay. Where were you back then when we were fighting for independence? What were you doing?
Where were you back in 2006?
At that time, I was on my studies in Belgrade. Mirko Stanic, the current president of the Cetinje Assembly and the SDP spokesperson, was the student vice-dean at my faculty and organizer of the Association of Montenegrin Students. As a younger student, I made a modest contribution by organizing students’ travels and voting. Montenegro’s independence was an important thing for our family. To the extent that I got the lowest grade in geography because I refused to bring a map of Yugoslavia to classes. Instead, I took out the map of Montenegro I got from Vijesti.
I didn’t face problems in Belgrade because of my activism. And Mirko, a Cetinje resident, an open fighter for independent Montenegro, was elected vice-dean. On one occasion, a professor of psychology, who was close to Kostunica’s party, asked a question in front of all students “Is there something you would give your life for?”. I remember I shouted provocatively and jokingly – “For Montenegro”. And I had no problems afterwards either. I’m afraid things have changed in Belgrade meanwhile. I’m not sure if independence would be possible with such a government in Serbia.
Back then, I was for the independent Montenegro, but against the DPS. I voted for Medojevic in the next presidential election.
I remember Budva in those days. Svetozar Marovic did a lot so that Budva, which traditionally leaned towards the Serbian world, still voted for independence with a majority. Now he backs the Front, and Krapovic, who threw stones at people celebrating independence the night after the referendum and shouted at them in front of me, is the Montenegrin Minister of Defense. And it’s not just Budva, it’s today’s Montenegro. The man who used to shout “death to America” is now one of the main promoters of NATO.
And we should be happy about that, as it’s a sign that the idea of an independent Montenegro won in the end. The behavior of the “winners” after 2006 who did not antagonize the “losers” helped a lot. The best example for this statement is perhaps my personal experience. When I returned from Belgrade and went to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for an interview with Mirsad Bibovic, I met in the corridor one of the leaders of the student movement who fought against independence. Mr Bibovic was of the opinion that there was no need to organize the second meeting and recruit me there. But both – this small student leader of the movement advocating for the state union and Jakov Milatovic – worked there.
The former government didn’t discriminate anyone based on their identity and ethnic affiliation. Those are just fairy tales. The discriminated ones were strong nationalists who don’t perceive this country as theirs but who primarily serve to the interests of Serbia and Russia. Today, these people run our parliament, our institutions and our cities. I’m not talking about those who have changed their views, like Krapovic. But about those who continue to act like that, such as Mandic, Knezevic and Dajkovic.
Not everyone who voted for one or another option in the referendum knew whom and why they supported them. I remember when we were leaving Cetinje to go to the pre-referendum gathering, one of my friends answered the call proudly telling “we’re going to the DPS gathering”. That friend of mine is now a member of the ruling majority in Budva. Both Dajkovic and Milacic were most likely for the DPS back then, not for the independent Montenegro, because it’s not possible that they changed their views so abruptly.
After all, it’s not important where we were in 2006. The important thing is where we are now. Happy Independence Day to all Montenegro citizens and may we learn to celebrate it together.
That’s all for today. Enjoy the rest of your day.
Kind regards,
Ljubomir Filipovic, CdM observer and columnist
(The opinions and views of our columnists aren’t necessarily those of the CdM news team)
