WORLD NEWS FOR MONTENEGRO DIASPORA
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AUTHOR:M.J. GDNUS
Montenegrin Foreign Minister Ervin Ibrahimović and his Croatian counterpart Gordan Grlić-Radman signed today an agreement between the governments of Montenegro and Croatia on the donation of the "Josip Marković" Cultural Center in Tivat.
Ibrahimović said that Montenegro has clearly shown that it wants to nurture and build friendly partnership relations, as well as trust with our friendly country Croatia.
"And indeed, Croatia is our friendly country and ally. But the Croatian community in Montenegro is also an inseparable part of the mosaic of our society," Ibrahimović said, adding that he was proud that Montenegro had once again shown that it inherited civic, interethnic, and interreligious harmony as a fundamental value.
"A value that once again shows that Montenegro deserves to be the next member of the European Union. But on the other hand, let us clearly send a message that all minorities are an inseparable part of Montenegro, all their culture, identity, language is in fact the wealth of Montenegro and I would like to congratulate the Croatian minority community from the bottom of my heart for gathering here, for doing good things for their community, but also for Montenegro and for us to reach Brussels even faster," said Ibrahimović.
Grlić Radman says that it is good to remind that the Croats of Boka, the Croats of Montenegro have been trying for decades to regulate the property and legal status of this important facility, which is a symbol of their ancestors, fathers and grandfathers who built this facility from 1920 to 1922.
"And of course, in the context of the historical and turbulent past of different regimes and state communities, this government led by Mr. Milojko Spajić, and especially through the efforts of Mr. Minister Ibrahimović, a dear colleague with whom I share an exceptionally good cooperation," he says, Mina reports.
He adds that whenever he comes to Montenegro, he emphasizes that he comes in good faith.
"That's why I congratulate you on this great success, this civilizational breakthrough. I thank the Government of Montenegro for enabling the Croats of Montenegro, the Croats of Boka, to finally be able to actively nurture cultural content here, to lead all activities, because we should not forget that the Croats of Boka are an autochthonous, indigenous community, a Croatian minority that the Croatian government unanimously supports. Its work is led by the current president of the Croatian National Council, Mr. Zvonimir Deković, and the president of the Croatian Civic Initiative, Mr. Adrian Vuksonović. We are glad that this home will be a place where Radio Dux and all other associations, that it will be a reading room, a workshop and that it will remind of the past, 103 years ago. Surely the ancestors, who built this home, would be happy to see it returned to their hands," he says.
When it comes to Croatia's support for Montenegro's European path, it is, says Radman, "absolutely unconditional in terms of our commitments, the values of integration and everything that reflects our European path – good neighborly relations, integration in the full sense, cultural and cultural, but also in all aspects of sharing European values, the rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms".
"I think that this important civilizational step forward with this home has also opened the way for all other open issues that burden our relations, which are mainly a legacy of the past", he stressed.
When asked whether Croatia will unblock the closing of Chapter 31 on June 27, he said that they never speak in terms of blockade or unblocking.
"So far, we in Montenegro have strongly demonstrated our readiness when it comes to the European path. You remember that we strongly advocated for NATO membership. During the Croatian presidency in 2020, the last chapter on market competition was opened, the eighth chapter. We have also closed three chapters, and now the fifth - public procurement, so our support is unconditional. Everything else should be viewed through value categories, not through mathematical quantities. Joining a club requires, of course, a certain effort. Croatia has gone through that path of negotiations with the European Union, and will help Montenegro on that path," he emphasized.
When it comes to Montenegro's commitment, as he says, Croatia supports the pro-European forces and political leaders of Montenegro, primarily this government led by Mr. Spajić, as well as sovereign leaders oriented towards the European path, which logically leads through Croatia.
"We are the last member of the EU from the region, we joined 12 years ago, we have knowledge, experience and expertise, and we are already helping Montenegro on that path. Croatia will continue to provide support to Montenegro. The question of the date or chapter does not need to burden the political public or the citizens. The citizens of Montenegro must know that they have an active advocate and friend - Croatia," said Radman.
He says that Croatia talks and negotiates on all issues that are a legacy of the past.
"There is a catalog of issues. Together we established negotiating groups led by the State Secretary, Mr. Frano Matošić, which meet regularly. They already had three meetings, two in Croatia and one here. We will continue with that. There is also a return school ship "Jadran". Also, it is in the interest of the city of Kotor and Montenegro, as well as future water polo championships, to change the name of the pool because it reminds us of a difficult and traumatic period, since the name is associated with the infamous Morinj camp," said Radman.
When asked if they are close to an agreement on the payment of the inmates in Morinje, and whether it is true that the sum of 17 million euros is in question, Radman says that the amount is not important to Croatia, but recognition and satisfaction for the inmates and their families, who during the period from September 30, 1991 to October 18, 1992, were detained in the camp - collection center.
"The aggression against the Republic of Croatia was confirmed by international courts. We must speak openly about the suffering, about Dubrovnik, looting and bombings, face the past in order to build a better future. The new generations must know what happened so that such a thing does not happen again. We lean on each other – Croatia on Montenegro and Montenegro on Croatia. Our path leads us towards Europe. Croatia has achieved its foreign policy goals and wants stability. Our cooperation is strong. The Croatian government cooperates with the Montenegrin government, has support in Brussels, we are NATO members, allies and future partners in the EU. We hope that Montenegro is the leader of the Western Balkans, the most committed to fulfilling the criteria and the best example of how EU membership can be achieved in the near future," said Radman.
Responding to the question of whether Montenegro is ready to pay compensation, Ibrahimović said that he sees things from the other side.
"I look at it from the other side – after five years, we have started political bilateral consultations, which is a big step forward. We have had regular consultations since January, which is commendable. As for compensation, I see it as part of Montenegro's European vision of becoming an EU member. Dealing with the past and good bilateral relations are important. The Government of Montenegro, led by Spajić, is clearly sending a message about improving relations with Croatia. We will discuss the rest at the table in the interests of both countries," Ibrahimović said.
Responding to the question about changing the name of the Kotor swimming pool, Ibrahimović said that the Government, namely Prime Minister Spajić, wants to resolve everything for the benefit of both countries.
When it comes to the ship "Jadran", Ibrahimović states that Montenegro and Croatia have different positions, but believes, as he says, that they will resolve everything in the spirit of friendship.
"The training ship "Jadran" will have the same fate as other issues that show that Croatia and Montenegro are friendly countries," he said.
Does the signing of this agreement give the home extraterritoriality
"Exterritoriality is considered when there is a diplomatic mission. This is a home, it has a special status, it can be called a corpus separatum, but it is subject to Montenegrin laws. The agreement clearly defines that the home is available to the indigenous Croatian minority for use. Respecting Montenegrin laws, this is a space in which the Croats of Montenegro will have their activities, just as every minority has its space in Croatia," said Radman.
Exterritoriality, as he says, is regulated differently in international law and the Vienna Conventions.
On Thursday, the Government of Montenegro adopted a report on the completed negotiations for the conclusion of an agreement between the Montenegrin and Croatian governments and on the donation of the "Josip Marković" Cultural Center.
They stated that the agreed contract stipulates that the Government of Montenegro donates the aforementioned real estate to the Croatian Government, without any additional consents or approvals, and accordingly, an entry will be made in the appropriate registers.
