FRY is fiction, I suggest that the decision-making center be left in Montenegro

by R.V

Vijesti, Podgorica, Montenegro, FR Yugoslavia, November 1, 2000

"I do not think that it is in the interest of Serbia and Montenegro to hide their statehood in some Yugoslav construction. I do not see why it would be in the interest of especially young generations in either Serbia or Montenegro to be ashamed of their history and their flags. I think that both of us should be proud of that. I think that it is in the interest of both Serbia and Montenegro to have separate membership in the United Nations. We in Montenegro must avoid the idea of making concessions to Serbia as far as Yugoslavia is concerned. Serbia does not ask those concessions from us. Serbia wants us to be correct towards her. We ask from Serbia to treat Montenegro correctly," Milo Djukanovic, the president of Montenegro, stated last night as a guest in "Aritmija", a TV Montenegro program. Explaining the proposed new platform for the negotiations with Serbia, which envisions two internationally recognized independent states, he stated that someone else in his place may suggest to the Montenegrin public that "all problems in the relations between Serbia and Montenegro have been resolved and that we should return all competencies that we have in the meantime taken over to the domain of the federation with full trust."

"I am not sure that anyone could in the future get away with that idea in front of the Montenegrin public. I am personally convinced that that would be a totally wrong course of action and suggest to the Montenegrin public that we should not do so. I suggest that we leave the decision-making center in Montenegro, in addition to developing absolutely new, friendly relations full of trust and respect towards Serbia. I believe that this is not only my view but also the view of a majority in Montenegro. I believe that this represents a significant political and social capital of Montenegro," said Djukanovic.

He emphasized that the new proposal is based on the fact that Serbia, since 1992, and Montenegro since three years ago, have been functioning as independent states. After all, reminded Djukanovic, only two federal functions remain, "the Yugoslav Army, which is viewed as a threat to Montenegro and its democracy, and the Federal Flight Control, which also served Milosevic's regime to prevent foreign diplomats from communicating with the democratic authorities in Montenegro."

"Our platform is that Montenegro and Serbia should again assume their international legitimacy. Serbia and Montenegro, as old European states, have every historical right to that, much bigger than some other ex-Yugoslav states. Montenegro functions as a sovereign state, which means that it has monetary, external trade, customs, foreign policy and security sovereignty. All of that indicates that Montenegro has serious prerogatives, apart from several exceptions that all internationally recognized states have. If we went backwards and decided to again build some united state of Serbia and Montenegro and give international subjectivity only to that state, we would have to return these functions that make up a sovereign Montenegro to the federal institutions. That in practice means that Montenegro would return its monetary sovereignty to Belgrade and would annul its decision to introduce German Mark as its currency. It would have to accept the policy of the Central Bank of Yugoslavia and the dinar as the means for payment. It would have to abolish its customs department, remove the external trade system set up by its government and return foreign trade and customs jurisdiction to the federal institutions. That in practice means that our entrepreneurs would again have to go to Belgrade with piles of documents to there obtain import permits. I believe that that would be totally irrational and that we should start with the level of sovereignty currently possessed by Montenegro and Serbia, and in order to provide for harmonious development of all of that in the future, it is necessary to obtain international confirmation for that sovereign capacity and the level of statehood," explained Djukanovic.

As the common functions of the new union, he mentioned military, common approach to the foreign policy and a common currency as a transitional solution before the adoption of the Euro, while neither of the central banks would be allowed to print money.

The Army, according to Djukanovic's proposal, should be reformed, organized in a more rational manner, significantly reduced and projected within the framework of the demilitarized Balkans, cooperative with respect to the Partnership for Peace, with command functions that would prevent abuse with respect to Serbia or Montenegro.

"We must make decisions based on our interests; we must democratically listen to the interests of those to whom we propose a model of a community; I have no dilemma that in a constructive, tolerant and patient dialog we will find the least common denominator," assessed the president of Montenegro.

According to Djukanovic, the citizens of Montenegro for the first time since 1918 will have to decide whether they will keep the responsibility for their future in Montenegro of will give it back.

"I am one of those individuals who feel the best when they control their own destiny. I believe that the same applies to Montenegro today. I believe that Montenegro will make the least mistake if it keeps the center for making decisions about its own future in Montenegro," said Djukanovic.

Marovic and Vujanovic support the platform

Information about the opposition of two vice-presidents of the DPS, Svetozar Marovic and Filip Vujanovic, to the new proposed platform were dismissed by Djukanovic as baseless rumors. "The DPS is a political party which allows for different opinions. There are no differences regarding the strategy. The differences have to do with tactics and dynamics. I really believe that Marovic, Vujanovic, and I will above all respect the undisputed attitude of the most senior body within this largest and strongest political party in Montenegro, not only because of party discipline, but because we projected such party policy convinced that it corresponds to the interests of Montenegro and all of its citizens," said Djukanovic.

State-controlled Media are not Anti-Serb

"I really do not think that the criticism of Kostunica or anyone else in Serbia is a sign that anti-Serb mood is fanned in Montenegro. State-controlled media in Montenegro are not anti-Serb. I think that some centers are trying to turn tables due to their belief that Montenegro does not have the right to present some historic facts after several decades of study of false history. Such individuals believe that Montenegro does not have the right to clearly present its strategic interests. I think that Montenegro has the right to do both and I think that Montenegro should work on a peaceful and tolerant atmosphere also via its state-controlled media," said Djukanovic. He said that he also expressed disagreement with some aspects of the editorial policy of the state-controlled media, but that it had to do with professional rather than strategic oversights. "Even if we ignore silly statements of someone who concludes that in accordance with the cosmic significance of Montenegro it should be given not one but eight seats in the UN, we would be simply sparing the Montenegrin public of stupidity and the author of that stupidity from the presentation of the same," said Djukanovic.

Letter to the United Nations

"Belgrade has sent the initiative for the reception of the FRY to the United Nations. Montenegro was not consulted, but that should have been done. I sent a letter to the UN and other relevant international institutions and informed them that Montenegro is pleased with the victory of democracy in Serbia and is showing readiness to continue to participate in efforts to further institutionalize that democracy; that Montenegro is well disposed to the efforts of the international community to provide Belgrade as soon as possible with as much assistance as possible. I emphasized that the process of negotiations between Serbia and Montenegro is open and that one of the principles is that Serbia and Montenegro could be internationally recognized states with seats in the UN and that because of that I request the permanent members of the Security Council, OSCE secretary general, European Council to keep that in mind when they make their decisions regarding the acceptance of FRY to the UN. I do not think that that letter will prevent the UN from urgently admitting FRY to that organization, but I am also far from the belief that the admission of FRY to the UN will prejudice the resolution of relations between Serbia and Montenegro. I think that it is very important for Montenegro that this threshold of our warning exists at relevant spots in the international community," said Djukanovic.

How to reach 70 percent support

"My impression is that the opposing parts of the Montenegrin political public are showing anxiety. On the one hand there are some political structures that believe that a referendum should be organized in five days, because they doubt the consistency of Montenegrin statehood-political convictions [support for independence]. Consequently they think that some political good that could take place in Belgrade could dissuade the Montenegrin political public. On the other hand there is the demand that the referendum, with which they supposedly agree, be postponed as much as possible, exactly based on the same speculation, with expectations that some good taking place in Belgrade may dissuade the tight majority in Montenegro that supports the Montenegrin independence. I do not think that the convictions of the citizens of Montenegro are fleeting. I am convinced that if we find a solution through an agreement of a majority in Montenegro, and then an agreement with Serbia, at least 70 percent of Montenegrin public would support such a solution; in that case that would be a solution that would be tenable for the long-term future of Montenegro," assessed Djukanovic.

Elections if agreement cannot be reached with the People's Party

To the question whether due to the opposition of the People's Party to the new proposed platform for negotiations with Serbia elections will be held before a referendum, Djukanovic said that "one should not be too concerned about that, as coalitions disappear and coalition partners part their ways". "We need to maintain a coalition in power, regardless of our disagreements in connection with some subjects. Something should be left to time. We should wait for negotiations and first reactions from Serbia. I think that they could introduce somewhat more optimism regarding the significant consensus in Montenegro about this proposal. I think that reactions from Serbia, such as those by Zoran Djindjic, will sober up many people in Montenegro who think that exactly they are called to defend Serb interests in Montenegro and defend the interests of Serbia. If we cannot find a common denominator within the coalition, I do not exclude the possibility of early elections. I do not see anything tragic in that," said Djukanovic.

Translated on January 3, 2000