Montenegrin Parliament adopts resolution on genocide in Jasenovac, Croatia announces sharp response

(Patria) - The Montenegrin parliament tonight adopted a resolution on the genocide in Jasenovac. 42 members of the parliamentary majority voted, 41 in favour and one against.



Opposition MPs, as they had previously announced, left the parliamentary hall because they did not wish to attend the vote.

During the session, the opposition agreed in their assessment that the instigator of the resolution was Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, and that it represents a political response aimed at justifying the vote on the Resolution on the Genocide in Srebrenica in the UN General Assembly. They warn that the adoption of this document will halt Montenegro's European path.

Parliament Speaker Andrija Mandić said after the vote that he would like to see compatriots from Belgrade and Banja Luka, i.e. representatives of the state leadership of Serbia and Republika Srpska, in Montenegro on Petrovdan.

Croatia earlier sent a protest note to Montenegro regarding the announced adoption of the resolution on Jasenovac, which has been in the parliamentary procedure since 17 May, proposed by Andrija Mandić and Milan Knežević, and supported by MPs of the Europe Now movement, Democrats, SNP, and parties of the former DF.

Večernji list writes that official Zagreb, in addition to recalling the ambassador, is also considering the possibility of declaring all those who supported the resolution as personae non gratae.

Over the past month, Croatian officials have repeatedly stated that the adoption of the resolution could result in the deterioration of good neighbourly relations, as well as the slowing down of the integration process.

The latest warning came after the intergovernmental conference at which the obtaining of a positive IBAR was formalised, when State Secretary in the Croatian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Andrea Metelko Zgombić said that this was an unnecessary and inappropriate move. This would, she added, mean that Montenegro allowed itself to be instrumentalised by someone from outside, which is not a good message for a country that wants to continue on its European path.

Due to a possible blockade of the IBAR, the debate on the resolution on Jasenovac was tactically postponed until the end of June. Adoption on Vidovdan was an expected move, in line with earlier announcements by Milan Knežević that this date would be ideal. The passing of the resolution on Jasenovac is one of the key demands with which Knežević conditioned further support of the Democratic People's Party for the government of Milojko Spajić.

The head of the Democratic Party of Socialists' parliamentary group said after the session that the responsibility for the damage done today to European Montenegro lies solely with Prime Minister Spajić and his political party - the Europe Now movement.

(N. Kovačević)