Major problems with national symbols in Montenegro

The use of ethnic symbols in Montenegro has become an apple of contention between authorities and minority representatives. Big problems also deal with the use of Albanian symbols.

Montenegro's Culture Ministry announced in mid-August that it will freeze two charges against members of minorities, allegedly using the symbols of other states in Montenegro. The first was announced against the organisers of the humanitarian concert “for our Kosovo and Metohija”, which was held in Herceg Novi. The ministry claims that Serbia's symbols have been used in this manifestation and Montenegro's national anthem has been desecrated. Also, an announcement was made against organisers of an event on the Cijevni River near Tuzi, because only Albanian flags have been placed there, but not even Montenegrins.

But not two months later is it still unknown whether the ministry has filed any indictments or these were just “empty threats”. DW requested additional information on the case. But actors are said to have made it known that such things will no longer be repeated. At the time of these two events, organisers of contested nationalist manifestations were said to have violated the law, broadcast the DW.

In Montenegro, only Montenegrins and Albanians, Serbs, Bosniaks, Muslims, Croats and Roma live. They all have the right to use their own flags, but under certain conditions. But there are those who claim that Montenegrin laws are contradictory and inaccurate.

Flag Punishment

Two years ago, on the day of Montenegro's independence on 1 May, police in Budva have questioned a manager, Milo Bozovici, because he had put Serbian symbols in his house. Authorities viewed it as a provocation to the holiday when Montenegro seceded from Serbia. Bozovic said he did not violate the law, because the flag used was not Serbia's official flag, but the old Montenegrin “flamer”.

On the same day, a larger group of Albanians, with national flags and flags of “Greater Albania”, which includes part of Montenegro's territory, gathered on top of Mount Rumija. Authorities did not react, and Serbian politicians in Montenegro claim authorities are not treating all equally.

But that is not true, because courts have punished many Albanians in Tuz or Ulcinj, but because of the use of Albanian flags. This has triggered fierce protests by Albanian politicians. Tuzi Community Chairman Nick Gilosha and Minister of Human and Minority Rights Mehmed Zenka stressed a month earlier that the “Albanian flags in Montenegro will continue to wave”.

The ruling party partner, Montenegrin Parliament Speaker Genzi Nimanbegu, told DW that Albanians, as an autochthon people of Montenegro, expect they will not be punished for using national symbols. This is the rejection of our originality and our community. The Albanian flag is our national symbol and we will not change it”, Nimanbegu said.

Albanians in Montenegro (no) can use flag

Under Montenegro's Law on Public Order and Peace, a citizen publicly showing a flag, coating, or another symbol of another state without authorisation will be fined 100 to 500 euros or in prison for up to 30 days. Albanians claim they won the right to raise the national flag in 2000, when the Law was passed to use national symbols, and that the Law on Public Order and Peace is at odds.

Nimanbeg has demanded that this measure be lifted last year. But this request has not passed to the Parliament. Nimanbeg has repeated the request two months later. The government has identified the problems, but the issue remains with some ministries. Harmony of laws would eliminate problems and ensure the use of symbols, as the Constitution guarantees, Nimanbegu says. He expects the government's support, which is always supported by Albanian subjects. But political experience shows that there are still big problems.

The Law Is Unclear

The president of the Association of Lawyers of Montenegro Branislav Radulovic claims all these problems have been caused by irregularities in the Law on Using National Symbols. <x0) He underlines that “is undeniable that minorities have the right to choose and use their national symbols”. But it must be determined by law that these symbols cannot be identical to the symbol of another country.

“We will not change our flag”

That would imply that Albanians in Montenegro can use their flag, but it cannot be identical to Albania's flag. Radulovic says the Serb, Bosnian or Roma communities in Montenegro, without any legal obligation, have regulated their national flags in this way. But Nimanbegou said changing the national flag of Albanians in Montenegro is not possible.

We disagree on this. - Why would they do that? He thinks such demands are nationalist. “Like any nationalism, dangerous is new Montenegrin nationalism. Non-secularism can be even more dangerous than the other nationalisms in Montenegro. I just see it as a rejection of the rights of other communities, as is the case here with our flag. This is an interpretation aimed at violations of rights, is nationalist and pro-micoshqiqian. This is violence against our community. This causes and can cause other extremism and violence, because we are the only national community to be punished. While other nations in Montenegro are free to use their flags”, Nimabegu claims.

Radulovic claims that “a similar legal provision has all sovereign states”. He thinks it would be better for Albanians in Montenegro to have their own symbol, which sets them apart from the national flag of other sovereign states.