KRUG 99 In Montenegro, unification of civil forces is necessary

(Patria) - At the regular session of Krug 99, Zlatko Vujović, professor at the Faculty of Political Sciences in Podgorica and president of the think tank Center for Monitoring and Research CeMI, stated that Montenegro has certainly been interesting in the past year because it is not only the scene of internal divisions but also of the interests and actions of various regional and international players. Vujović, speaking on the topic "Challenges in the further development of civil Montenegro and regional forces", also recalled the turbulent events in Montenegro in the past five years, including the attempted coup, opposition protests, interference from Russia and Serbia, the boycott of parliament and the litije (religious processions), emphasizing that at the end of this process, an atypical government came to power in Montenegro, which is under the full control of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro.

- In such an atypical situation, we ask ourselves what happened, what caused this situation in a way. It is not new to say that Montenegro is a deeply divided society - said Vujović.

He added that it is also about the rift between hegemonic currents from Russia and Serbia and pro-Western currents that strive for a civil course.

- However, this deeply divided society was also accompanied by weak institutions, a high degree of corruption, the long rule of one political party, a transformed communist party for 30 years. Such a combination has made Montenegro quite weak, exhausted by some internal conflict, with damaged legitimacy of a government that won mostly democratic elections but used and misused state resources - said Vujović.

He added that it cannot be ignored that the policy of the Democratic Party of Socialists managed to pull Montenegro out of Slobodan Milošević's control, that it managed to direct it and bring it into NATO, avoid war events, distance itself from the war destruction of Milošević's policies, and build a good path in European integration. However, it did not have enough strength to transform it completely.

Vujović said that such a weak Montenegro had to defend its decision to join NATO and found itself under attack from Russian political and intelligence structures through Serbia, and that strong support from Western partners was lacking.

According to him, Serbia strengthened the opposition in Montenegro in political and financial terms, and thus a policy came to power that believes Montenegro does not belong in NATO, and for a part of these structures, even European integration is not needed.

Vujović sees the change of government in the United States of America as an opportunity to force Serbia to abandon its interference in the events in neighboring countries.

- If this does not happen, then the Balkans faces not only destabilization but a return to the 90s - warned Vujović.