Do you think, that after all massacres and tragedies in the Former Yugoslavia, it will be a welcome miracle and pleasure to see Former Yugoslav Republics having friendly relations, identical to relations between Countries of  the European Union which accepted the Schengen agreement

Unbelievable but true, the European Union is openly against the first initiative of such a kind. 

In fact the proposal comes from Montenegro, the smallest of the six Republics in Former Yugoslavia.

In the past decade, with a lot of patience, Montenegrins have avoided war with Serbia. Montenegrins opposed the Serbian regime but it was always well calculated not to provoke Serbian military reaction. Now Montenegro wants independence, but in a peaceful and friendly way with preservation of all the rights and interests of its citizens. The Montenegrin position can be summarized in a single sentence:

Montenegro and Serbia as independent States, members of the United Nations, should adopt mutual relations identical to relations between Countries of the European Union which accepted Schengen agreement; which  is the highest level of unity in the EU and can be a good example and encouragement for such kind of relations in the whole territory of Former Yugoslavia and the Balkans.

Serbia is against this Proposal because the will for domination inside a unitary state is still strong in Serbia. Actually EU firmly supports this position of Serbia. 

Historical background 

Montenegro is a small European state with wonderful nature and more than one millennium of epic history of successful resistance to different conquerors like Byzantium, Medieval Serbian State and the Ottoman Empire…

“The bravery and battles for independence of Montenegrins surpass those of the ancient Hellenes at Thermopylae and at Marathon” was written in 19th century by  William Ewart Gladstone, four-times  Prime Minister of England. It can be added to his words that Montenegro was not only a country of warriors. For example while more than five centuries ago, Columbus was sailing to discover America, old Montenegrins were printing their first books. 

Montenegro, as an independent kingdom, entered the First World War in spite of Austrian demands to stay neutral. The aim of Montenegro was the liberation of all Southern Slavs and creation of Yugoslavia as a Union of independent  states, imagined already at that time in a similar way to present day EU!  Contrary to this,  Serbia wanted the creation of Yugoslavia as an unitary state, and saw Montenegro as an obstacle. 

At the end of the First World War,  Montenegro was occupied and annexed to Serbia.   During the Montenegrin-Serbian war in 1919, the Serbian Army committed terrible atrocities. In the beginning of the Serbian occupation the Great Powers promised the re-establishment of Montenegro, but very soon the world accepted the results of Serbian aggression. 

Montenegrins and others Slavs of the south (Croats, Macedonians, Slovenians, Bosnians) escaped from Serbian domination only after the Second world war when a new Federative Yugoslavia was created.       

New Serbian attempts to dominate smaller nations started in 1990 and finished with the violent destruction of Former Federal Yugoslavia. 

Actual situation and Serbian Policy 

Now after 12 years of wars, tensions, dictatorships, interruption of normal life and development, Montenegro and Montenegrins are faced with enormous problems:
- Pre-war economy is destroyed and there is strong presence of corruption and mafia, with rumours that some top political leaders are behind it.
- Nearly 10% of its populations are refugees (let’s imagine EU or USA with sudden arrival of 30 millions of refugees!). As a Montenegrin I am proud to say that we have refugees from different ethnical and religious groups, which is a unique example in the Balkans.

Serbia is supporting and helping growth of dangerous internal tensions in Montenegro with realistic hope that tensions can stop independence. For destabilisation of Montenegro the new Serbian regime uses existing minority of Serbian hardliners in Montenegro which were the most loyal and sincere supporters of goals and ideas of the old Serbian regime!

Serbian Policy is based on the fact that in Montenegro only a small majority (presumably 52%)  is ready to take the risk and vote for independence if Serbia is against it. But Serbia also knows that there are  25-30% of the population ready to vote for independence only if Serbia is not against it, i.e. if there is no risk of armed conflicts. So Serbia uses tensions and fear to diminish support for independence in a potential Referendum. Serbian Propaganda is that in Montenegro only a small majority is for independence. The answer is that in this antidemocratic atmosphere of fear even a small majority is a big achievement.

Vision of re-established Montenegrin State

The main flows in the world’s history are a result of the actions of the big countries and nations. A small nation, like Montenegro can surpass the larger nations and become important worldwide only as an Example of something good. So the basic guiding principle in re-establishment of the State of Montenegro should be TO RISE TO THE LEVEL OF THE EXAMPLE.

There are many Montenegrins who already support this guiding principle and there are already concrete projects for it. We are determined to rise to the level as an Example of the first truly Ecological State;  an Example of a State without an Army and of course an Example of an open and friendly State with democracy and the highest respect of human rights.

Montenegro has a good and well-educated population and intellectuals and, if well understood by the international community, in spite of enormous problems it can achieve its idealistic dream and reach the level of the Example.

In the name of Montenegro I ask you for your understanding and neutral position in the actual negotiations between Montenegro and Serbia.

31 December 2001                                                                        Dr Dragan Hajdukovic
                                                                                     crnagora_montenegro@yahoo.com 

Dr Dragan Hajdukovic is a Montenegrin physicist, well known in Montenegro as a pacifist and as the originator of the Project of Ecological State in Montenegro (including idea of a State without an Army), a project stopped by war in Yugoslavia, but which can continue now.