VIJESTI: Have you already defined common duties of the future state?
DJINDJIC: We will definitely not insist on a large number of functions of that federal state. However, regarding the way towards that goal, I see bigger problems and disagreements, as our priority is to lead our country without instability to the twenty first century and Europe, to ensure that we are a low risk region, to avoid raising issues likely to provoke conflict, to make sure we are not again in doubt, to avoid disintegration, so that people abroad do not again have to wonder whether there will again be conflicts... And knowing us and emotional disagreement regarding the statehood issue, such dangers are very real. Because of that we in Serbia believe that all that we want to achieve can be achieved within the FRY Constitution and by its modification. That Constitution is the roof under which we can modify, rebuild and add to our common home or our two homes, but if we remove that roof it is very likely that some bad things will happen.
What, for example?
We in Serbia are very concerned that Kosovo, which is in official international acts defined as a part of FRY, would stay in an undefined status at the moment Yugoslavia disappears. Consequently it is very questionable whether it is necessary to take that risk, if there is a possibility to resolve everything without that. That is our position, and at the moment I see bigger disagreement regarding that procedure between the Montenegrin government and the DOS than in the [Serbian] Parliament itself. True, we haven't discussed and debated that issue but I doubt that there will be problems.
Are there differences between you and Kostunica regarding the future relations between Serbia and Montenegro? How likely is it that the DOS will split due to different attitudes with respect to this issue?
There are no such differences, neither within the DOS, nor between Kostunica and I. Both of us are liberal democrats and give more attention to content then to results. If something is a result of respect for democratic process then we have the obligation to accept it. Therefore, we do not intend to impose solutions and set a priori goals and then seek ways to "push them through". We are for an open discussion, respect of laws and the Constitution in these agreements and then, regardless of what it may be, we shall accept the result. Regardless of if it is pleasant or unpleasant for us. That is the essence. We still haven't had detailed discussions about which common functions should be retained by the common state, but in a semi-formal conversations I think that there was no disagreement that these functions should include defense, international relations, protection of borders, perhaps customs and some parts of the tax system.
Will the citizens of Serbia get a chance to express their opinion regarding the possible future agreement with the official Podgorica in a referendum?
I think they will not. At least, that is my attitude, and I do not know what the official decisions will be.
Why?
My personal view is that there is no need because in Serbia this issue is not controversial. In Serbia people will easily agree with any sensible solution and, besides, that topic hasn't even been opened here yet. That is why I believe that Serbia will agree with every democratic solution that may be offered.
Do you see the attitude of Podgorica that in the negotiations regarding the new relations the president of FRY, Vojislav Kostunica, can participate only as a representative of the Serbian government, as a formal or a significant issue?
I think that that is nothing but nitpicking. The political essence is that, if we are interested in reaching a solution, all those who can contribute to that process should participate in the talks. If, on the other hand, we do not want to find a solution, then no one can help us and in that case nothing really matters. Therefore, in either case, it should not have been objectionable that in one phase of the talks representatives of the opposition parties in both Montenegro and Serbia should join the negotiations and that a solution should be reached by consensus. The idea of the current offer from Montenegro is to prejudge and state that Yugoslavia does not exist, but that only Serbia and Montenegro exist. That is not true, not only because Kostunica and I may wish so, but also because that was the wish of the politicians who are now in power in Montenegro and who in 1992 founded FR Yugoslavia, without asking either Kostunica or me. I think that it is somewhat unfair to now throw that hot potato to us and claim that the state they founded with Slobodan Milosevic does not exist. No! I am sorry gentlemen, we are now trying to resolve the consequences of your policies as well. That Milosevic's Yugoslavia is more theirs than ours, but if the child has already been born, let us nurture it together instead of giving it to the neighbors. I think that that demand is not fair and is somewhat offensive for us. It seems to me that with it we are returning to the start and it must be openly said whether we want a constructive solution or are simply seeking excuses to separate Serbia and Montenegro. If these are mere excuses, then we can do without them, without negotiations, without anything. If there is a true desire to reach a constructive solution, then we shall find it easily, then there is no reason for ping-pong diplomacy. Of course, there is no reason either for the worsening of relations, as is from time to time done in waves in certain Montenegrin media. I think that in that case we can sit down and as reasonable people agree in the interest not only of this generation of politicians but also in the interest of the people who will live here in the future.
What is your basic message for the citizens of Montenegro?
The basic message is that they should ask themselves what a European, a citizen of Europe of which we want to become a part, would do, what a European politician would do in this situation? Please, let us stop with Milosevic schizophrenic behavior and talk about trying to join Europe, while at the same time we are rushing in the opposite direction. If we really want to be a part of Europe, let us work and behave as if we were already a part of the European Union. Only that. That would be sincere, honest and there is no demagogy and manipulation there. We in Serbia are ready for such an approach.