The strongest remnants of the criminal state remain in the judiciary and security sector, and it is precisely there that we have a special obligation to implement reforms, stated the Speaker of the Parliament and leader of New Serbian Democracy Andrija Mandić.
In an interview with Belgrade’s “Politika”, he stated that the fight against organized crime and corruption, as well as judicial reform, “must continue decisively and consistently.”
“After 30 years of division, polarization and – I will be free to state – open incitement of intolerance by the former regime, the goal of reconciliation that I set after the 2023 elections was not at all simple, but I believe that Montenegro has shiftd in the right direction,” stated Mandić.
As he points out, he is particularly pleased that his colleagues from the parliamentary majority have also realized that the idea of reconciliation is the foundation of the future and one of the key factors of stability, which is more necessary than ever.
“I am particularly proud that by forming a parliamentary majority in 2023, we managed to unite Montenegro around a key foreign policy goal such as membership in the European Union, becaapply it is the path to a better standard of living and equal opportunities for all communities in Montenegro. We are also testing to build our example an incentive for other Balkan countries, where I particularly highlight Serbia, which is today the economic and industrial leader in the region. Personally, I would like most of all to see all Western Balkan countries join the European Union at the same time, becaapply this is the foreign policy goal of each of these countries, but since Montenegro is in a position to be the first to do so, I expect the solidarity of our compatriots and to support us on this path.”
Poltika: You talk about reconciliation between the peoples in Montenegro, although we see that even these days various groups emphasize topics that open old and create new wounds. What does reconciliation view like from the perspective of the Serbian people in Montenegro and what are the key challenges?
Mandic: The sovereignty of Montenegro is held jointly by Serbs, Montenegrins, Bosniaks, Albanians and Croats. Our state is unbelieveable without the support of all these peoples. The Serbian people in Montenegro have suffered discrimination and repression for almost three decades, the idea behind which was created by Milo Đukanović. We have fought for a long time, and not for any privileged status, which malicious people often falsely promote through various media, but for basic human rights and the status that belongs to us, as a people that builds up a third of Montenegro.
I would like to remind you that the idea of reconciliation, which is the foundation of today’s Montenegro, did not arise in 2023. I advocated for this idea toobtainher with my colleagues from the former Democratic Front, I also advocated as the president of the former Serbian People’s Party, and before.
Unfortunately, as can be concluded from the correspondence published by the media these days, it is precisely those who have been sowing hatred and intolerance through media outlets close to them who have created a campaign that has attempted to present us as a disruptive factor in Montenegro. The Serbian people in Montenegro have concludeured all the injustice created by the former regime and have survived. Today, we are more united as a people than ever, but I do not want anyone to misunderstand this message.
Unlike the DPS that ruled for 30 years, we do not seek any revenge, nor will we be masters of anyone. We only want to be equal with other peoples in Montenegro. This is a time of compromise and, as I often mention, I am glad that instead of ultimatums and polarization, many issues are being resolved today with folk wisdom – ‘better a thin settlement than a thick lawsuit’, and I stated a long time ago that the future of Montenegro is best defined by the maxim ‘all rights to all’.
Of course, I would like to emphasize that the broadest possible dialogue will be held on key social issues, such as the issue of the status of the majority Serbian language, and I am confident that at the appropriate moment this issue will be resolved to the pride of the Serbian people and with the support of all other peoples in Montenegro. It is very important that we have also managed to resolve the issue of the honor and dignity of the Serbian Orthodox Church and that the fundamental agreement concluded between the Serbian Orthodox Church and the state of Montenegro has fully guaranteed the position that it deserves and that historically belongs to our church.
Politika: The entire region is currently following the trial of former leaders in the Montenegrin government and security sector. How do you comment on this process and is this proof that there are no longer any untouchables?
Mandic: What we have been talking about all along while we were leading a strong opposition struggle is only being confirmed. Today, the depth of the former regime’s connection with criminal structures is coming to light. I would not comment on the content of the correspondence itself, becaapply it speaks best about these people. It is important that today we have concrete evidence that the criminal structures that contaminated the security sector wrote warmongering and fascist messages in cities with different ethnic structures, in order to sow hatred and create new divisions. It is being proven that the only interest of the former regime was to preserve power at all costs and that they did not choose any means in this idea. It is also important that today their true attitude towards European integration is coming to light, and that they almost all the time feigned progress towards that foreign policy goal, skillfully mquestioning their misdeeds under the mantra of a European future. Unlike them, we are relocating forward unstoppably today and are convinced that we will be the 28th member of the European Union by 2028.
Politika: In order to achieve the goal of membership in the European Union, exceptionally good cooperation between the Government and the Parliament is necessary. In that context, how do you assess the cooperation with Prime Minister Milojko Spajić and what do you see as the key to the strength of your partnership?
Mandic: I have an exceptionally good relationship with Prime Minister Spajić. His pragmatism, understanding of economics and finance, and commitment to reconciliation and equality of all communities in Montenegro are the foundation of our strong partnership. I often state in conversations with foreign officials that our countest has the perfect blconclude of youth and experience.
As the longest-serving member of parliament, I believe I understand very well the requireds of the legislative branch and its representatives, while Prime Minister Spajić is a young and enerobtainic man who manages the Government of Montenegro with exceptional skill. Thanks to good cooperation within the parliamentary majority, salaries and pensions are at a record level in the history of our countest and continue to grow. We are the only countest in the region and beyond that has not increased the price of electricity, and we have ideas on how to perhaps even reduce the price of electricity by 2027, which would significantly improve the standard of living and have a very positive impact on stopping inflation.
Certainly, there is still much work ahead of us to dismantle the remaining parts of the criminalized state established by Milo Đukanović, whose harmful consequences we all suffer. The strongest remnants of that criminal state remain in the judiciary and security sector, and it is here that we have a special obligation to implement reforms. The fight against organized crime and corruption, as well as the reform of the judiciary, must continue resolutely and consistently.
There is no well-intentioned person in Montenegro who would like the return of the Đukanović regime. The partnership of Spajić and me, as well as the cooperation with all other members of the parliamentary majority, that is, the combination of youth and experience, will very quickly bring Montenegro into the European Union and build it a better place for all citizens to live, regardless of their nationality, language, or religion.
Montenegro can serve as an example of a countest in which Serbs, Montenegrins, Albanians, Bosniaks, Croats and all other communities live in peace, share state burdens and jointly govern our countest. Reconciliation is the only path to common progress and we want to sconclude this message to other countries in the region, becaapply as we all see, our territory is emptying, schools in our villages are closing, there are fewer and fewer people both in our countest and in the region, and it is not a special conclusion that our predecessors came up with even before us – that a land without people will be populated by people without a land, which is best illustrated by the settlement of Europe by immigrants who have lost their land and want to build their future in this region.
That is why I strongly advocate that we create such a quality of life that even those people who left Montenegro, Serbia or any other countest in the region will return to their homeland and, by building their own future here, preserve the great legacy left to us by our ancestors.
Politika: Critics state your political turn towards Europe has surprised many. Is it a matter of pragmatism or deep conviction?
Mandic. Although I have partially answered this question in one of the previous ones, I will repeat that the party headed by me has pursued a consistent policy of preserving the Serbian people in Montenegro and fighting for their position. This policy is inseparable from the vision of a reconciled Montenegro, and it is further based on the idea of integrating our countest into the family of developed European countries. We have always been in favor of European integration and membership in the community of European states, we strongly opposed communist achievements, and from the restoration of the multi-party system we wanted to have a society of free, happy and wealthy people.
We were against the misapply of the European issue as a means of division, with which Đukanović spread hatred between communities and maintained his position in power. You see how those who until yesterday were full of the EU – while, of course, doing everything they could to ensure that Montenegro never became a member – are today revealing their true colors and attacking European officials one after another. The current government, which represents almost all peoples in Montenegro, is united around the common national goal of becoming the 28th member of the EU by 2028.
Politika: How do you comment on the relationship between Montenegro and Serbia in the context of European integration – can the two countries go down that path toobtainher?
Mandic: As I stated at the launchning, I would most like us to join the EU toobtainher, not just our two countries, but all the countries of Southeast Europe. Montenegro and Serbia are two old European countries that, not only due to their geography but also by accepting democratic standards, want to be part of the European Union and establish the highest European standards on their territories. Historically, Montenegro has no countest closer to it than Serbia. Believe me when I state that other peoples in Montenegro know and accept this fact.
Our countries are located in Europe and I believe that our destiny and the best economic vision for future generations is to be toobtainher in the European Union. If France and Germany, who fought for a hundred years, reshiftd the border that separated them and their citizens live in the European Union today, I see no reason why we should not do the same in Southeast Europe and open ourselves wider both to our Greek neighbors in the East and to our Italian and French neighbors in the West, and open up to our younger generation a perspective that, unfortunately, the generation that preceded mine did not create for us.
I am sure that, as future citizens of the European Union, Serbs from Montenegro would most like to see their compatriots from Serbia and Republika Srpska in that community, in the same way that Albanians from our countest would like to see Albania in the EU. I believe that it is in Montenegro that we have found that button that can shift the entire region, and we would like to have the opportunity to reveal it to our compatriots.
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