WORLD NEWS FOR MONTENEGRO DIASPORA
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Today, Montenegro is facing serious challenges that are eroding its multi-ethnic democracy, the oasis of peace in the Western Balkans and the anchor of its stability, as it was called from the 90s of the last century until recently by the highest officials of democratic states. Continuous Russian hybrid actions, to which we are exposed, encourage retrograde policies, spread hate speech and deepen divisions in Montenegro, as well as in other Western Balkan societies, assessed the President of Montenegro, Milo Đukanović, at the 52nd session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva.
Đukanović said that this year's debate is being held in the context of the continuation of Russia's one-year war against Ukraine, with unfathomable suffering and suffering of civilians, and further severe violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law.
In the conditions of the collapse of the foundations of the international order based on the rules and the UN Charter, tectonic earthquakes and consequences for global security, geopolitics and economics, including the energy and food crisis, inflationary pressures and rising costs of living and doing business. Russian aggression put the whole world to the test, generally having a sobering and cohesive effect on the international community - said Đukanović.
The attack on Ukraine, as he said, is an attack on our European and global security and stability, and on the binding key principles of international law and international humanitarian law.
That is why we must not remain silent when part of a sovereign state is occupied by another, when there are attempts to overthrow democratically elected authorities, or when any state violates and abuses human rights and freedoms. Because of all this, it is important that we see openly and clearly how states relate to their obligations to protect and promote human rights, because people's lives depend on it, as well as peace, security and stability. We cannot be neutral in relation to aggression, nor human rights violations - Đukanović points out.
He welcomed the Human Rights Council's attention to the human rights situation in Ukraine in this context. According to Đukanović, the council obliges his mandate to do so.
Otherwise, we would risk encouraging similar threats to other countries. Today it is Ukraine, tomorrow it could be some other neighboring country. Let's say Montenegro, which, by the way, has been under the strong influence of the so-called the soft power of Russia and its branches of hybrid activity in the country and in the Western Balkans. In the past, we have too often witnessed the terrifying effects of impunity for crimes. We have to learn from mistakes. We must not repeat the mistakes - the president points out.
Đukanović also assessed that it is necessary to work on preserving and improving human rights and democratic values in our societies. This is the only way we can be credible and responsible towards our citizens and reliable in cooperation with others.
When we look at the scope of the Universal Declaration in the context of the current multiple connected and intertwined challenges and crises, it seems important to recall that the country I headed preserved the peace, intercultural and interethnic character of Montenegrin society in the whirlwind of evil and war that generated retrograde policies in the area of the former Yugoslavia , in the nineties of the last century. Today, we can look all our neighbors in the eye, without turning our heads from Srebrenica and all other crimes, just as we did not close the door to the columns of refugees from BiH, Croatia, and Kosovo, who found refuge in Montenegro during the nineties. Just like today from a large number of Ukrainians fleeing from Russian aggression - said Đukanović.
Nevertheless, even today, Montenegro faces serious challenges that are eroding its multi-ethnic democracy, the oasis of peace in the Western Balkans and the anchor of its stability, as it was called from the 90s of the last century until recently by the highest officials of democratic states, is the president's view.
Continuous Russian hybrid actions, to which we are exposed, encourage retrograde policies, spread hate speech and deepen divisions in Montenegro as well as in other Western Balkan societies. But we do not have and we are not looking for an alternative to the European value system. On the values of justice, rights, freedom and equality, while respecting the highest international standards, Montenegro restored its independence. It achieved membership in NATO, and found itself in the lobby of the European Union. And we will continue on the European path. Montenegro will remain a principled voice in relation to the dramatic violations of human rights, crises and conflicts that occurred in other countries around the world - concluded Đukanović.
M.J. - POBJEDA
