President of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić he decided to address the Montenegrins in an open letter to a Montenegrin media and explain, so that they would better understand, his boycott of going to the celebration of the anniversary of independence Montenegro.
In a text longer than 1.300 words, Vučić explains that he didn't offend anyone, that he didn't say anything, that he didn't mean anything, but that he still ended up "crucified on a cross".
Everything else is already a well-known repertoire of Vučić's dramaturgy - Serbia is tolerant, patient and endlessly benevolent, while the neighborhood persistently does not recognize its efforts and stabs it in the back.
"Dear citizens", begins Vučić's address to Montenegrins in a letter on the Borba.me portal.
The president explains that he wished Montenegro "all the luck and success", but that he did not want to attend the "glamorous act" of the independence celebration. In principle - I wish you all the best, but I'd rather not watch it live.
Vučić then claims that he was "crucified" because, as the president of Serbia, he allegedly has no right to a free attitude. Here, the citizens of Serbia might well ask themselves why President Vučić is saying so much in the domestic media and the public.
What are the neighboring relations between Serbia and Montenegro
The history of relations between Serbia and Montenegro in recent years can hardly fit into the formula "we only love you, but you don't understand us", which is perhaps what President Vučić wanted to say to the Montenegrins.
There was everything - from accusations of interference in internal affairs, through diplomatic expulsions of ambassadors, to an almost permanent media war between Belgrade and Podgorica.
The spectrum of quarrels between the statesmen of the two countries in the last 20 years since Montenegro declared its independence is very colorful.
Ever since the alleged attempted coup d'état in Montenegro in 2016, in which the Montenegrin authorities claimed that both Russian and Serbian nationalists participated, relations between the two countries have been operating on the principle of constant political suspicion.
Later, there were tensions over the Montenegrin Law on Freedom of Religion, when official Belgrade openly sided with the Serbian Orthodox Church and the processions in Montenegro, while the then government of Milo Đukanović accused Serbia of direct political and media interference.
Diplomatic relations further cooled in 2020 when Montenegro expelled the Serbian ambassador Vladimir Božović, after which Serbia tried reciprocal measures, and withdrew them within a day.
Vučić's five points
After the introduction, Vučić goes on to five points, in which he almost insultedly responds to the neighbor's alleged name-calling.
In the first and longest point, Vučić explains that Serbia has never interfered in the internal affairs of Montenegro. While explaining this, he mentions NATO, the media, Jovanjica, Kavački and Škaljarski clan, Montenegrin politicians, protests in Serbia and the inevitable "colored revolution".
The president states that Serbia "loved Montenegro more than Serbia".
Nothing without Kosovo
The second point deals with Kosovo, and President Vučić goes a bit into the mode of historical martyrdom. Serbia, says Vučić, never asked for "Pljevlja nor Berane", while Montenegro recognized Kosovo.
"Montenegro, brotherly, probably precisely because Serbia respects Montenegro, recognized Prizren and Gračanica and Decani and the Patriarchate of Peć as part of some other, not Serbian, state. And we don't protest, we still love you and see you as brothers, just don't tell us that we are taking something from you," writes Vučić, among other things.
A little about genocide
The third point reminds us that Serbia never accused Montenegro of genocide, even though Podgorica passed resolutions on Srebrenica.
"It was enough once, it had to be done three times. By the way, Serbia believes that Zoran Gopčević deserved to have the pool named after him, Serbia believes that the victims of Lora deserve justice, Serbia does not even ask you for the Jadran ship that King Alexander built, we will not even ask for Prevlaka, so because of all this we do not deserve your respect, but contempt," continues Vučić.
He also mentions Luka Bar, and that Serbia will not change its fraternal and friendly policy.
And then there's the EU.
The fourth point leads readers to the European Union, on whose path Montenegro is far more successful than Serbia.
"I wish Montenegro every success despite the fact that every meeting of Montenegrin officials begins and ends with Montenegro pointing out the difference between itself and Serbia," writes President Vučić.
He adds that he wishes her luck "in NATO, Europe and wherever she wants."
We respect you, respect us
In the last, shortest point of the letter, Vučić says that Serbia respects and will respect Montenegro and its citizens, and he asks for the same in the opposite relationship.
"The only thing we ask of you is that regarding the Serbian language, Serbian national features, show respect for a third of your population, at least as much as you show for the members and political representatives of those peoples who have become your associated brothers and helpers on the European path. That's all. And nothing more," concludes Vučić and adds: "Long live the friendship between Serbia and Montenegro."
The president stopped there, the rest will be history.
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