Djukanovic Does America

"Governor Avramovic has our support on the issue of continuity and succession in those financial institutions," Montenegro Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic told a reporter in Washington who asked if his republic supports the Yugoslav National Bank governor. At virtually the same time, the federal government headed by Radoje Kontic, a prominent member of Montenegro's ruling DPS, decided in Belgrade to appoint Jovan Zebic chief negotiator with international financial institutions. Those events open the question of the survival of the SPS-DPS coalition and the question of how loyal the federal prime minister is to his party.

It's clear that Belgrade-Podgorica relations are cooling quickly and that dissatisfaction is growing over "alleged steps taken by the federal government" and some federal bodies which are slowly lowering the equality of Montenegro in the federation. Montenegro state daily "Pobjeda" published a comment on the clash between the Serbian government and NBJ governor, using the term "alleged steps" three times. Was this an effort to specify the clash with Avramovic or an effort to amnesty Kontic who is allegedly signing everything he gets from the center of power? The fact is that Montenegrin officials did not voice support for the governor until Djukanovic voiced his in Washington.

Djukanovic left for the US suddenly. The public was told when the prime minister was already in the air and reports from the US said the FRY embassy in Washington wasn't told of the visit. He left very angry with the federal state especially its diplomacy. Earlier he fiercely criticized the inertnees of the federal state in establishing relations with international financial institutions and threatened to get money on his own if the federal state isn't capable. Both Djukanovic and republican President Momir Bulatovic said on several occasions that they recognize the right to succession for all the other former Yugoslav republics which was not in line with the federal government stands.

After the failure of the Paris talks, reports from Belgrade said parts of Montenegrin laws on concessions to foreigners were being abolished and added that preparations were underway to get rid of the governor which just speeded up Djukanovic's preparations to leave for the US and try to get what he can for Montenegro. His intentions were not explained publicly but sources close to the authorities said Djukanovic got some signals from the IMF.

In the meantime the misunderstandings between Belgrade and Podgorica multiplied. Foreign correspondents and local reporters were told recently by the Montenegro information secretariat that the federal secretariat does not recognize the accreditation issued to them by Montenegro. The Montenegro secretariat said they have the authority to issue accreditation but added that the attitude of the federal secretariat was incomprehensible. It said the federal state has refused to register the British information center in Podgorica which has been operating without a license for two years.

It seems that the misunderstandings are entering their most critical stage in the clash over Avramovic. Montenegro does not want a repeat of hyperinflation; it wants to get fresh money as soon as possible, establish friendly relations with neighboring countries, especially the former Yugoslav republics. In a statement to VREME, an expert close to the authorities who insisted on anonymity said it's unimaginable for Montenegro to accept a debt of about 16 billion USD along with Serbia. The only thing that suits it is Avramovic's proposal and in that case the debt of Serbia and Montenegro would stand at around seven billion USD. Montenegro would be obliged to repay just 100 million of that since it has bought up its foreign debt. That is very favorable for the republic; it recognizes its debt, gets fresh money immediately since it has privatized most of its economy and has a development program. The expert said that means Montenegro does not want the burden the debtors lobby in Serbia is trying to impose and there's a virtual war on behind the scene.

So Montenegro is taking steps on its own; tax cuts to attract foreign investment, the abolishment of tourist passes for foreigners, trying to get planes for its airline company, openly stating that the airports in the republic are its property not the Yugoslav Airline's (JAT) and that JAT wouldn't help develop the republican airline and adding that agreement has been reached with foreign airlines on charter flights to the republic at prices much lower than the ones JAT offered. Montenegro Airlines director Zoran Djurisic said in public that the republic wants part of JAT property when the assets of the former Yugoslavia are divided.

Those are some of the details along with the clash over customs, Montenegro's constant request to the federal government for pension fund dues and similar which show that the brotherly love is in serious trouble.

The public is impatiently waiting for Bulatovic and Djukanovic to speak up after their trips to the US and London.