Spajić: Montenegro will support the Resolution on the Genocide in Srebrenica

(Patria) - Montenegro will vote in favor of the Resolution on the Genocide in Srebrenica at the United Nations (UN) General Assembly, announced Montenegrin Prime Minister Milojko Spajić today.

Spajić stated this while addressing MPs in the Montenegrin Parliament, in response to a question from the leader of the Bosniak Party, Ervin Ibrahimović, on whether Montenegro will support the Resolution on Srebrenica initiated by Germany and Rwanda.

Spajić said that Montenegro is 100 percent aligned with European foreign, security, and defense policy, and will continue to be so.

- We will vote for all resolutions that condemn genocides and crimes in the former Yugoslavia. We will vote for this resolution that we have before us - Spajić said.

He added that he had spoken about it publicly.

- We have condemned genocide, we have no problem doing so - Spajić emphasized.

He stated that the Government will discuss it, but he thinks it is unnecessary to mention, as they have committed to pursuing a pro-European policy through the agreement.

According to him, Montenegro has an independent foreign policy.



- Montenegro is an independent state and has great understanding for the positions of Serbia, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Albania, and North Macedonia.

They are our friends, we want the best possible relations with them, to have partnerships with them and deepen economic cooperation - he stressed.

He stated that Montenegro does not want to take sides.

- We want to de-escalate tensions and relax relations between Bosniaks and Serbs, Albanians and Serbs, Croats and Bosniaks, Macedonians and Bulgarians, between anyone in the region. Our goal is for Montenegro to be a peacemaker - Spajić assured.

He emphasized that he does not accept the thesis that Montenegro is inferior to anyone.

- We are equal to the French, Germans, Austrians, Italians, Americans, Japanese, always. Montenegro is an ancient state, which existed when many European countries did not, we are not a pumpkin without roots, we have very deep roots - emphasized the Montenegrin Prime Minister.

In a written response to Ibrahimović, he stated that the Government of Montenegro, in consultation with its allies, proposes two amendments to the UN Resolution.

Spajić said they firmly believe that these amendments honor the victims and prevent the stigmatization of people for the crimes of individuals.

- They aim to prevent manipulations that often serve certain socio-political actors for internal purposes - Spajić emphasized.

Addressing the Parliament session dedicated to "Prime Minister's Hour," he said that everyone witnessed the propaganda that the resolution would "vote" a nation as genocidal.

Spajić added that, unfortunately, many people did not even read the resolution, and asked why anyone would object to these amendments, stating that they only confirm the obvious.

- They state that no nation, no religious group, is genocidal. Do you know that these amendments, especially the first one, were fully supported by all our partners whom you listed as civilizational examples - said Spajić.

He added that no one called the Montenegrin Government's amendments to the resolution problematic.

- Everyone supported them and said they stand behind these amendments, even BiH. Have you heard BiH's reaction to the amendments. I am convinced that they are acceptable to them - Spajić stated.



He assessed that the amendments are excellent and that, as he added, they will show the true intention. He stated that the entire region should accept both the Resolution on the Genocide in Srebrenica and all other announced resolutions.

- We see that Jasenovac will also be on the agenda, let that and other resolutions be supported. We are for it, because Montenegro has always upheld anti-fascist policy and we are proud of that - stated Spajić.

Montenegro, he continued, has always been on the right side of history, and that should continue.

Spajić assessed that the amendments are fantastic, that they calm the situation and that, as he stated, they open the possibility for Bosniaks and Serbs to finally extend a hand to each other and reconcile for eternity, and for us to have a reconciled Western Balkans.

He appealed to political actors in Montenegro to be much more careful regarding identity issues and relations with the region, as it is very important to maintain peace in the region.

Ibrahimović recalled that the Resolution has so far been co-sponsored by some of Montenegro's key international partners, including the USA, France, Turkey, Great Britain, Luxembourg, Austria, Sweden, Italy, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, Slovenia, and North Macedonia.

He said that the issue of the Resolution on the Genocide in Srebrenica is fundamental and will show, as he said, whether the 44th Government is truly European and whether it wants Montenegro to be among the developed European countries.

Ibrahimović believes that by voting for the Resolution, Montenegro would once again stand on the same side as countries with developed democracy and respect for rights, and confirm that it belongs, in substance, not just declaratively, to the part of the civilized world it wishes to be a part of in terms of values, substance, and form.



He stated that he is glad that the public hears today that the 44th Government of Montenegro will support the Resolution on the Genocide in Srebrenica.

- I would also like all government representatives to truly understand that our place is with all those countries that are co-sponsors of the Resolution on the Genocide in Srebrenica - stated Ibrahimović, adding that it is a civilizational need of society.

The resolution, he added, does not deal with perpetrators, as guilt has been established by the Hague Tribunal.

- I read the resolution carefully, nowhere is a genocidal nation mentioned, nor can a nation be genocidal, only perpetrators, executors, and ideologues can be genocidal - explained Ibrahimović.

Therefore, as he stated, he believes that the Government's amendments are unnecessary.

- Be brave, let's be co-sponsors of the resolution and let's not submit these two amendments, they are superfluous - Ibrahimović assured.

Speaking about the second amendment, he asked, "where do we get the right to mention Dayton and talk about it".

Ibrahimović also emphasized that everything is regulated within the constitutional order of BiH.

The Speaker of Parliament, Andrija Mandić, said that the political representatives of the Serbian people will propose that the Parliament adopt a resolution on the genocide in Jasenovac.



- We expect to have 100% support from both the government and the opposition for such an initiative, because we believe that this parliament should also condemn such a crime - added Mandić.