Montenegro needs to "repay" its debt to BiH

Written for Patria by Dr. Zijad Bećirović, Director of the International Institute for Middle Eastern and Balkan Studies, Ljubljana

The Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) led by Milo Đukanović will form a government with traditional allies, the Social Democrats (SD), and parties of minority communities, and this is already a done deal.

The 2016 parliamentary elections in Montenegro were not just about deciding the future government, but also about the future of the country. It is truly interesting what Montenegro is going through. Until the last elections, political divisions in Montenegro were almost exclusively based on the principles of Montenegrin (non)independence. This time, the decision was not only about NATO and the EU, or Montenegro's Euro-Atlantic path, but also about the ideological matrix in Montenegro, i.e., whether Montenegro will align with Russia or the West.

Russia strongly opposes Montenegro's entry into NATO, and the last elections were intended to bring down Milo Đukanović as a symbol and leader of pro-Western policy. A similar scenario was prepared for Montenegro as Russia applied in BiH, using Milorad Dodik.

Serbia's role as a destabilizing factor in the Balkans has now been formally taken over by Russia. It seems there is a tacit agreement between Serbia and Russia, but based on certain information, there are considerable disagreements not only between Montenegrin and Bosnian Serbs and official Belgrade, but also between official Belgrade and Russia.

The role of Đukanović and Montenegro in future events in the Balkans could be crucial. Montenegro is the best substitute for the destabilizing policy coming from Serbia and Russia regarding Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro itself, but Đukanović must help the stabilization processes in the region, especially in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Montenegro must help BiH stabilize its internal situation, as well as on the international level, and it is high time for Đukanović and Montenegro to "repay" everything that BiH has done for Montenegro so far, especially regarding the support of Bosniaks in Montenegro for independence and in the recent elections, but also what BiH has done on the international stage by supporting Montenegro's Euro-Atlantic path, agreeing before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that Serbia would be solely responsible for the crime of genocide ruled upon by the ICJ in February 2007, to the recognition of Sutorina, i.e., ratifying the border agreement, etc.

Bosnia and Herzegovina will need strong international support in the coming year, and Đukanović must use Montenegro's available capacity to help BiH on its path to NATO and the EU.