Former Head of Montenegrin Diplomacy: Milatović is Relativizing the Srebrenica Genocide Again

(Patria) - It is absolutely inappropriate for an elected president to bargain over when he will visit the memorial complex and cemetery in Potočari, Miodrag Vlahović, President of the Montenegrin Helsinki Committee (CHO) and the first Montenegrin official to visit Srebrenica in November 2004, then as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro, stated for Pobjeda.

Vlahović stated this in response to the statement of the newly elected President of Montenegro, Jakov Milatović, who said that he would consult with his team about whether to travel to Srebrenica this year or next.

Milatović said at the opening of the SEE/DEM summit in Budva that he holds the same position as before, i.e., that his stance on Srebrenica is very clear and that he condemns all crimes that occurred in the past.

Vlahović pointed out that Milatović is relativizing the Srebrenica genocide again by mentioning certain execution sites and places of horrific crimes from World War II.

- It shows that, on this occasion as well, political points and base populism are important to him, not a clear determination and personal stance that genocide occurred in Srebrenica - Vlahović is of the opinion.

He assesses that because of this, Milatović is using a kind of code that, as he said, is well understood by the political structures and electorate who resent the fact that Srebrenica is mentioned at all.

- I have already spoken about this, when Milatović, some time ago, sent the same message, which also contained that compromising "but...". This time, however, the elected president further informs us that he does not know whether he will go to Srebrenica this year or next.

Such trivialization is completely inappropriate. It shows his shamelessness on these issues and reveals, quite clearly, that there are some conditions and reasons, rationales and criteria that will determine whether he goes on July 11 this year, or next year.

Or perhaps the year after that - if his advisors recommend it and if it causes him less damage with those to whom he addresses such messages - says Vlahović.

He believes that for someone whose victory in the presidential elections was celebrated under the flags of another country and with outbursts of aggressive and primitive national-chauvinism - as he was supported by people and parties, both from Montenegro and abroad, who deny the Srebrenica genocide and celebrate war criminals - it would be expected that he refrain from populist phrases and deceptions in his public appearances. As well as to go to Srebrenica, without waiting for anniversaries and commemorations.

- That would be the right move for someone who assures us that he represents all Montenegrin citizens. Then we would (perhaps) believe him more that he is "decisively breaking with the past of divisions and hatred".

Because, that statement by one of the PES leaders is a step backward, not a step forward. Milatović's statement, unfortunately, indicates that he is acting quite differently - in a way that will be welcomed by those political structures and politicians from whom he, it seems, solely expects support - not only in the upcoming elections - Vlahović concludes.

Vlahović had previously reacted to this on Twitter, wondering what Milatović's advisors' decision depended on.

"What does the decision of those advisors depend on? Climate change? Odd and even years? Election results (if any)? Will Vučić be there? What does Europe Now with DF think about it? What does Europe Now without DF think about it? Europe Now with or without Spajić? Difficult analyses await the advisors...", Vlahović stated on Twitter.