Batrićević: Montenegro is a potential point that can cause a global conflict; Šušanj: The request of the church is made as an obligation of the state

Religion is instrumentalized in order to achieve political goals, it was concluded at the fifth and last panel of the Second Cetinje Forum in 2023.
The name of the panel was "National identities and European integration: perspectives and challenges", and Montenegrin and regional intellectuals spoke.
Amra Hadžimuhamedović, an architect from Sarajevo, spoke on the last panel about cultural memory, mental geography and European cultural citizenship, using the example of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Sarajevo.
"The imaginar that imposes itself does not make a kiss, but lowers the entire Bosnian cultural memory into the crack between two worlds. In this non-belonging, Bosnia is in a dilemma where to go now", said Hadžimuhamedović.
She emphasized that it is crucial that BiH develops its own path towards the future that will satisfy the needs of its citizens and ensure stability and prosperity.
"And that means that Bosnia and Herzegovina will not have ties to the East or the West, but that it should make decisions that best serve its interests and needs," she stated.
Šušanj: The request of the church is made as an obligation of the state
Jelena Šušanj from FCJK spoke about the Montenegrin school system, through two narratives.
"There were examples of abuse of the school by the Church of Serbia in Montenegro, starting with various Orthodox brotherhoods that appear during holidays and bring gifts from the day with suitable coloring books or materials about St. Savi", said Šušanj.
She also reminded of the Russian holiday Maslenitsa, and pointed out that the celebration of this custom in Montenegro, at least according to the available data, started in 2018.
"It was abandoned to put that holiday in a wider context and it was included in a strictly Russian holiday, which changed the narrative itself," she added.
Šušanj also spoke about the Basic Treaty and its provisions that enable the introduction of religious education even though it is in contradiction with the national legislation.
"The narrative has intensified from 2020 to today. "Joanikije reinforces the narrative and in 2022 declares that the state is obliged to introduce religious education in schools, which makes the request of the church an obligation of the state," said Šušanj.
However, even though it is evident to everyone that clericalization is increasing in Montenegrin society, Šušanj pointed out that it can be seen that there is energy not only in the country but also in the region so that things do not go wrong.
Batrićević: We can position Montenegro as a solution to the problem
FCJK professor Boban Batrićević spoke about religion as a basis for exporting instability and reminded that in 2020 there was a change of the thirty-year-old government, that the ground was prepared for that in Serbia.
"In 2020, mim serdars took place and they presented the digital Chetnik revolution, and they explained to young people how the SPC brings good to Montenegro," Batrićević said.
Comparing the situation in Iran from the last century and Montenegro today, Batrićević pointed out the West's confusion in the whole situation.
"France played a perfidious game in Iran in the last century, but also here recently. "We remember how Ambassador Timonija interfered in the internal affairs of Montenegro by calling civil activists fascists, and taking the side of Jakov Milatović," Batrićević recalled.
He warned about current processes that imply the instrumentalization of religion, and are reminiscent of what has already happened.
"Serbia is exporting what is its church in order to undermine the sovereignty and identity of Montenegro, Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina," he said, adding that Montenegro is a potential point that can cause a global conflict.
According to him, any conflict can be transferred to the region.
"As a small country with many differences, we can anticipate things and position Montenegro as a solution to problems," Batrićević pointed out.
He also explained that Serbia is responsible for an independent Montenegro, but under its control: "It is naive to believe that they will abolish Montenegro."
Orlandić: The narrative needs to be changed
Sanja Orlandić from FCJK spoke about changes in government, i.e. changes in fundamental social values, drawing a parallel between the events of the people in the 1990s and the repeated process in 2020.
"With the fact that citizens want entry into the EU, we also have to worry about it. We can only lose the fight if we don't fight," said Orlandić.
The narrative must change, as she said, and it must be said why Montenegro should join the EU.
Sulejmani: Corruption is a Balkan cancer that will be cured by joining the EU
Arben Sulejmani from North Macedonia spoke about the trials and prospects of European integration, pointing out that corruption is a Balkan cancer that will be cured by joining the EU.
The final presentation at the last panel of this year's Cetinje Forum was given by Fatima Mahmutćehajić, a professor at the Faculty of Economics in Sarajevo. Its topic was "The future of South-Eastern European countries - legal, ethical and political challenges".
"If the rights and duties of ethno-national, religious or any other affiliations are territorialized as such so that they are not equal for all citizens in the entire state territory, consequently in all areas of life, in public policy, education, health, entrepreneurship, justice, each individual does not have equal duties and rights, and it is completely clear that then politics is unethical", said Mahmutcehajic.
She concluded her presentation by expressing the hope that there will be such gatherings in Bosnia and Herzegovina and in Cetinje, "that we will advocate the inviolability of the individual, and consequently of our countries".
POBJEDA