Đukanović on Vučić: His policy is Greater Serbian nationalism

(Patria) - Former President of Montenegro and the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) Milo Đukanović said he doesn't know if he sang "Nobody can do anything to us, we are stronger than Serbia" during the celebration of the DPS results in the local elections in Podgorica.

"My question is, what if I did? If we sang that we are stronger than Serbia, America, Russia, is that hatred?", Đukanović asked.

Đukanović believes that Montenegro, with its overall development, has confirmed that it has the internal capacity to implement reforms and join the EU. However, Đukanović says, we cannot fail to notice the regression in the past four years.

"This has led to a serious ruin of the fragile achievements we made over 14 years, and in all areas – security, politics, education, and healthcare. Montenegro has lost the key prerequisite that qualified it as a leader and frontrunner in the region, which was exemplary political stability. This is evidenced by the fact that we have changed three governments so far, from kleronationalist to Greater Serbian and populist. This indicates that Montenegro would not be able to seize the opportunity that is now presenting itself", Đukanović assessed.

He said that Montenegro now has its doors ajar again for enlargement.



"If they remain ajar, there is no doubt that Montenegro is ahead of other candidates. Our homework cannot be done by anyone but us. Montenegro has the potential, but it requires serious state-political management, which Montenegro currently lacks", Đukanović said.

When asked if Serbia now has the potential to be on the European side, Đukanović said that "there is no doubt that Serbia has the internal potential to be on the Euro-Atlantic side", but, as he says, the state policy marked by the ideology of Greater Serbian nationalism is problematic.

"This is a threat to peace and stability in the region. Serbia is balancing between East and West, and such a policy has been a short-term success, as Vučić has managed to stay on that thin wire, but I don't think it's a good policy, because when the duration of that policy ends, the country will be in the same place it was before its beginning", assessed the former Montenegrin president.

The interest of the region is stability, says Đukanović, adding that the Greater Serbian policy, which the international community has allowed, has threatened the sovereignty of neighboring countries.

"If you have allowed Serbia, through the poor policy of the West and clear destructive policy from Moscow, to play again with Milošević's mantra: 'Serbs are endangered, so Serbia must protect them', then such a policy threatens the sovereignty of neighboring countries, stability, and halts development. This is the effect of international policy in this region in the previous period", Đukanović pointed out.



Speaking about the election results in Podgorica, he said they were indicative, as they showed that the ruling majority at the state level does not have a majority. He also notices, as he said, the steep decline of new parties, which call themselves pro-European.

Former Slovenian President, Boris Pahor, said that Montenegro is in a great position and could be the next country in line for enlargement.

"There is an opinion that Montenegro could be the first country in the Balkans to be next in line for enlargement. If there is such a vision and philosophy, Montenegro should use it. Montenegro should do everything possible to achieve such a decision for enlargement", said Pahor.

He emphasized that after the aggression on Ukraine, the stance on enlargement that had been valid in Brussels until then changed.

"Do not underestimate this change of mentality regarding enlargement in Brussels. This change is real, there is now political will to proceed with enlargement to the Balkans. From a geopolitical perspective, absolutely, but one must bear in mind that Brussels requires real reforms and that it is not just about geopolitics for stability. We are now truly seeing a chance for enlargement in all Balkan countries", Pahor assessed.

He believes there is no reason for conflicts to occur in the Western Balkans, but if someone outside has an interest in them happening, it would be Russia.