Viennese der Standard: 'Serbian World' in Montenegro?

(Patria) - "The new government in Montenegro wants to join the EU, but also to move closer to Serbia," reads the headline of an article in the Viennese newspaper der Standard.

"It took a long time," the newspaper describes the difficult formation of the ruling coalition in Podgorica, six months after the elections.

In the end, Milojko Spajić from the "Europe Now" movement became prime minister. The Standard describes this movement as "politically vaguely defined and centrist" and "close to the regime in neighboring Serbia".

The coalition is supported by "pro-Russian parties," assesses the newspaper's correspondent Adelheid Wölfl, adding that two Albanian parties also provide support, reports Deutsche Welle.

She states that the previous regime of Milo Đukanović "was considered corrupt," but that under him "it was clear that Montenegro rejected the influence of the regime in Serbia and Russian influence in the Balkans".

"Spajić has now promised an improvement in already good relations with neighbors, by which he actually meant Serbia," writes the Viennese newspaper.

It is no coincidence, the journalist assesses, that "pro-Russian nationalist" Milorad Dodik said before the formation of the government in Montenegro that Serbs in this century should form a single state comprising Serbia, Republika Srpska, and Montenegro.

Recalling that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Podgorica announced that Montenegro is an independent and internationally recognized state, the author remarks that "Serbian World" is actually another name for "Greater Serbia".

"Serbian World," she writes, "does not mean redrawing borders at all costs – it is primarily about influence at the level of propaganda and institutions. The idea of the 'Serbian World' also serves the interests of the Kremlin, which always strives for unrest and destabilization in the Balkans".

Wölfl assesses that in September there was an "attack by Greater Serbian terrorists in the north of Kosovo". "In Montenegro, these Greater Serbian forces are trying to undermine civic consensus," she states.

The article concludes by recalling that the young prime minister Spajić intends to focus primarily on the economy. Montenegro, writes Standard, has opened all negotiation chapters in its talks with the EU, but has closed only three.

"It is certain that there are strong centrifugal forces in the new government. Montenegro, with regard to the Kremlin's war against Ukraine, is in a field of high geopolitical pressure".

"Not everyone wants transparency, an independent judiciary, and civil liberties, but rather to strengthen ties with Russia and China. People like Spajić primarily want to deregulate markets and attract investors," the text adds.