HELSBuINlleKtiIn Helsinki Comm it tee for Human Right s in Serbia R i g e o d F e re s t r. # 2 0 , 1 1 0 0 0 B e l g r a d e , S e rb i a t e l ./ fa x + 3 8 1 1 1 3 0 3 2 4 0 8 ; e - m a i l :o ffi c e @ h e l s i n k i . o rg . rs ww w . h e l s i n k i . o r g . rs No 59 ● February 2010 Montenegro: Regime in Podgorica Constantly Criminalized Relations between Serbia and should be accorded. With an Montenegro aggravated after approach as such, Serbia overtly Montenegro’s recognition of Kosovo supports the pro-Serb opposition in (October 2008) to which Belgrade Montenegro, which has been playing responded by expelling the on the thesis about allegedly Montenegrin Ambassador. When jeopardized Serb people, Serbhood Podgorica and Prishtina established and Serb language. diplomatic relations (November 2009) Belgrade withdrew its ambassador to Montenegro. Montenegrin President Filip Vujanovic paid an official Belgrade to Serbia in May 2009, but the visit itself did not contribute to full normalization of bilateral relations. Besides, Montenegro definitely opted for Euro-Atlantic integrations and applied for EU candidacy, NATO endorsed a plan of action for Montenegro’s membership (December 2009) and, most Filip Vujanovic importantly, the Montenegrin parliament already adopted a declaration condemning the For its part, Serbia constantly plays Srebrenica genocide. on the story about Montenegrin Premier Milo Djukanovic’s alleged Serbia still aspires to play an involvement in cigarette trafficking arbiter in some exclusively internal and “the criminogenic nature” of the affairs of its neighbor. Such tendency incumbent regime in Podgorica. This is notably mirrored in Belgrade’s was particularly evident after “concern” for Serbs in Montenegro Montenegrin parliamentary elections and their status. Actually, it tries to in March 2009, when the ruling “order” a kind of status local Serbs coalition won an absolute majority of vote. To justify the last in the series of its electoral defeats, Montenegrin opposition claims they were rigged, whereas electoral campaigns mock community unfortunately ensuring Djukanovic victory are supported by the state.” 2 funded through criminal activities. The media in Serbia are According to the pro-Serb opposition, constantly campaigning against the outcome of the independence Montenegrin tourism: they play on referendum in 2006 was due to the the thesis about high prices, bad hookup between the regime and conditions and primitive service. organized crime. Such and similar Their list of the reasons why one claims and assaults at the ruling should not vacation at Montenegrin coalition, notably at Djukanovic, find coast goes as far as including a strong echo in Serbian media. Montenegro’s recognition of Kosovo independence. The year 2008, as the year of Montenegro’s high tourism, will be remembered by “high expectations falling short,” they gloated. Serbia’s diplomatic claims Serbia strongly responded to Montenegro’s decision to establish Milo Djukanovic diplomatic relations with Prishtina once it recognized the new state. It promptly messaged the Montenegrin The Serb Orthodox Church /SPC/ government that opening of a recognizes neither the Montenegrin Montenegrin embassy in Prishtina state nor the Montenegrin nation. further aggravated bilateral relations. SPC would neither recognize the Zoran Lutovac, Serbia’s ambassador Montenegrin Orthodox Church, to Montenegro, demanded which attracts more and more postponement of diplomatic relations believers and adherents. SPC openly with Kosovo until the ruling of the interferes into political processes in International Court of Justice. Montenegro despite Montenegro’s constitutional, secular character. Pro- Serbia requested to open three Serb parties in Montenegro have not consulates in Montenegro – in Herceg only been created by SPC but also, Novi, Niksic and Bar. Serbian Foreign like many other organizations, Minister Vuk Jeremic explained that operate under its influence. So, an Serbia was duty-bound to protect its Assembly of Serbs in Montenegro has nationals in Montenegro. The been established in the Moraca Montenegrin government turned monastery. Main promoter of SPC down the request as excessive – activities in Montenegro is Montenegro is a country too small to Metropolitan Amfilohije Radovic. host three consulates, one is quite enough, said the government. Then The newly elected SPC Belgrade warned Podgorica to think patriarch, Irinej, did not miss the twice before sending an ambassador opportunity to underline that to Serbia, coming from the political Montenegrins and Serbs were the structure that had won the March same people. “Separation of Serbia parliamentary elections. Premier Milo and Montenegro is senseless and Djukanovic responded by saying that irrational, given that we are the same was “a continued tendency to govern people with same roots,” 1 he said and Montenegro outside Montenegro.” called the Montenegrin church “a When the Montenegrin government 1 Kurir, January 27, 2010. 2 Blic, January 27, 2010. appointed Igor Jovovic ambassador to biggest portion – would not proceed Serbia, the Serbian media begun with such demand. On several running the stories about him being occasions, Serbian President Boris suspected for cigarette, booze and Tadic emphasized that Serbs could food smuggling in his capacity as not be a national minority in Montenegrin ambassador to Ethiopia. Montenegro. At the summit The Blic daily run a story headlined conference of South East European “Podgorica Sends a Smuggler for states in Cetinje, he said, “Serb roots Ambassador to Serbia.” 3 in Montenegro are deep and that’s a Serbia seizes every scholarly fact…Therefore, we cannot opportunity to belittle Montenegro’s accept that Serbs in Montenegro are independence. So, without any official treated as a national minority.” 5 It announcement and arrangements, was neither acceptable to him, he Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic went to said, that the Serb language and Bijelo Polje to attend a ceremony culture in Montenegro are in the marking St. Sava Day. “Throughout minority. “Montenegrins in Serbia are history, Serbia and Montenegro were autochthonous people, the same as walking side by side and never Serbs in Montenegro,” said President quarreled…Togetherness between Tadic, adding, “Nobody has the right peoples of Serbia and Montenegro – to question Montenegrin identity in togetherness in religion, customs and Serbia, the same as no one could spiritual heritage – is indestructible,” possibly question Serbian identity in said Jeremic addressing the Montenegro.” He messaged that audience. 4 Serbia’s policy was not hegemonic, but Belgrade was only duty-bound to safeguard Serbian cultural heritage in all the countries in the region. 6 The leader of the parliamentary party – New Serb Democracy, Andrija Mandic, sided with Tadic. According to him, it was with the funds from the ruling Democratic Party of Socialists that the Serb Radical Party imposed the thesis about the status of a national Vuk Jeremic minority for Serbs. His party supports the Serbian government’s Serbs in Montenegro plan for the establishment of a regional assembly of diaspora and Serbs, which would be invested with authority in certain fields under a The pro-Serb opposition claims relevant law, he added. 7 special rights for the Serbs in Miodrag Jaksic, state Montenegro. However, it is divided secretary of the Ministry for Diaspora, over the issue. A smaller portion of claimed, “Serbs in Montenegro do not that opposition, actually the Serb enjoy even minimal constitutional Radical Party, advocates a national rights in the domains of culture, minority status for Serbs. With information, education and religion.” Belgrade’s support, the rest – the In response, the official Podgorica underlined that Montenegro was a civil state the constitution of which 3 Blic, September 4, 2009. guarantees expression of all 4 Vecernje Novosti, January 28, 2010. 5 Kurir, June 5, 2009. 6 Ibid. 7 Vecernje Novosti, June 1, 2009. differences and that Belgrade’s claims apprehended a Serb and his were ungrounded. 8 accountant, an Uruguayan, intent to The media in Serbia also load cocaine onto an ocean liner. constantly speculate the size of Serb While the investigation into the population in Montenegro. According background and masterminds of this to the correspondent for the Politika obviously well-organized mafia daily, only 13,000 Serbs work for operation is still on, a media war Montenegro’s educational against Montenegro is in full swing in institutions: a negligible percentage of Serbia. Darko Saric, the central figure them is engaged in 21 kindergartens, of the case for the time being, is 161 elementary schools and 49 suspected of having laundered the secondary schools, whereas they keep cocaine money in Serbia mostly low profile at the University to “avoid where he was buying real estate (in repressive actions.” 9 Vojvodina, in the first place), business premises, companies, hotels, lands, etc. The fact that not a single institution has suspected the Montenegro’s attitude towards source of these funds indicates that Kosovo Saric must have had powerful mentors in Serbia, too. Montenegro’s decision to establish “The Saric case” opened a new diplomatic relations with Kosovo chapter in the struggle against angered Belgrade. Such an act, said organized crime in Serbia and in the Foreign Minister Jeremic, region. Even President Tadic “undermines regional stability and commented it by saying, “Today, hinders the establishment of the best Serbia is under the attack of possible relations among neighbors.” organized crime, which cannot be “Podgorica’s decision to establish identified as Serb only. There is no diplomatic relations with the illegal, doubt that this criminal group was secessionist authorities in Prishtina closely connected with same groups cannot go unpunished,” he in South East Europe, as well as in threatened. 10 In the attempt to soothe the European Union and Latin Jeremic’s threatening statement, America.” 12 Dragoljub Micunovic, president of DS Political Council, said Serbia should not raise hell over diplomatic relations between Montenegro and Kosovo.