Picula: Vuciq is compensating Kosovo by turning Montenegro to the notorious Serbian “world”

Serbia lost Kosovo irreversibly and Vucic only claims it does not recognise the real situation. On the other hand, he decided to compensate for this by trying to turn Montenegro into the infamous Serbian “world”. This is the assessment Croatia's former head of diplomacy Tonino Picaula gives in an interview for Pobjeda.

According to him, Montenegrin citizens, together with Montenegrin state institutions, should seize every opportunity to staunchly reject attacks on their identity and the right to independent decision-making.

In what atmosphere is the census in Montenegro organised, given the major pressure mainly from the Church of Serbia and Belgrade, for Montenegro citizens to be declared Serbs?

PI CULA: Judging by the interest of Serbian painters and television Provuchic, conveyed by the media even more unclear with different unknown characters, it may be thought that the census is actually being held in Serbia and that Serbia is under unprecedented pressure from Montenegrins. It is a continuation of the permanent anti-Montenegrin campaign led by the Serbian regime and the SPC, reinforced by the current election campaign.

Many analysts warn that the census has been reduced to a national count and that the number of other questions is insufficient to create more effective policies? Do you agree?

PI CULA: The fact is that the two questionnaires, which were published on the Monsta website, are very short, so it is questionable how much of the national data, marital status, IT knowledge and the degree of disability, as well as the number of family hives will be able to create any conclusions in the future. Politics. It may be assumed that Montenegro has not taken full advantage of this opportunity to collect really relevant data on the quality of life of its citizens, which would enable the Government and state institutions to better target measures in education, health care or social policy improvements.

How can unnecessary questions about nationality and language affect Montenegrin identity, which so far has not been strong enough in our society?

PI CULA: I doubt that the self-identification of Montenegrin citizens as ethnic Montenegrins or any other nationality will be influenced by a formal question. Montenegrins and Montenegrins, those who feel that way, will surely say so. Historical stories, national myths, family experiences or the self-conception of individuals in Montenegro certainly have a far greater impact on the formation of national identity. I believe that even within the same families there are members who understand their ethnic affiliation in numerous and more complex ways than what one questionnaire offers.

Could this census be the entry into a new era in Montenegro, where Serbs will be majority and the Serbian language will be the only one, as Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic wants before the elections? Even in its campaign, Montenegro is one of the most important topics.

PI CULA: Serbia lost Kosovo irreversibly and Vucic only claims it does not recognise the real situation. On the other hand, he decided to compensate for this by trying to turn Montenegro into the infamous Serbian “world”. I have said for a long time that it is strategically promoting permanent instability in the neighbourhood to distract the local public from chronic democratic deficits, institutional and media grasp and widespread corruption. Montenegrin citizens, together with Montenegrin state institutions, should seize every opportunity to staunchly reject attacks on their identity and the right to independent decision-making.