We Can Go It Alone

Well, I wouldn't call it a split. I think the media have exaggerated the disagreement which has occurred. Montenegro is an independent state subject which is conducting its own politics and whose leadership held somewhat different views concerning the Hague agreement than the official Serbian leadership. I think that all those who thought that the Serbian stand implies the Montenegrin stand over every issue were wrong. The public has come to know, although through unofficial sources, that the split occurred because Mr. Milosevic said that Serbia is not in war and that only Montenegro and the Army are involved in the war. I haven't heard Milosevic say that. You see, it is true that neither Serbia nor Montenegro declared war to Croatia, and that, formally speaking, it would be difficult to assert that Serbia and Montenegro are involved in the war against anyone. If you consider the structure of the Federal Army, it is easy to see that the Montenegrins and the Serbs are in majority. From this we can deduce that Croatia is, in a way, involved in the war against Serbia and Montenegro. We have claimed from the beginning that we support the preservation of the Yugoslav community, and thus the preservation of the Yugoslav institutions, which means the federal Army as well.How do you see the future of Montenegro?

Until recently, Montenegro's prime concern could be formulated as follows - "what will become of us if Yugoslavia falls apart, bearing in mind that we are so small?" I was not of this opinion even then, and it seems that it is dawning to the Montenegrin people that it is not so now. Montenegro has legitimate reason to believe that it can go it alone, that it could form a coexistence with another republic or that it could live in the form of confederation with other parts of Yugoslavia. This form of alliance would have to provide, as has been the case even within the Yugoslav federation, a certain degree of independence to Montenegro. Whether we are going to relinquish some of our sovereignty to the federal organs or to some form of confederation, or to the association of sovereign states - will depend on the response and the attitude of our citizens at the referendum. If Montenegro becomes sovereign, what will the status of the Montenegrins living outside Montenegro be - could it become a national minority?

We have stated in our mandate that we want Montenegro to be constituted as a state of Montenegrin citizens and not a state of Montenegrins and national minorities living here in Montenegro.

If we want to be consistent, if we are fighting to give that right to the Serbs living in Croatia, than we have to guarantee that right to the Montenegrins living in Serbia and Croatia. They will enjoy the same status as Montenegro will guarantee to all its citizens, regardless of their nationality. Some say that Montenegro detracted on purpose, since in case of the economic blockade Serbia could realize its economic interests through Montenegro.

I am acquainted with that view. I hope that what I have said is enough to refute such an opinion. I have stated that it was simply a case of a different opinion. So it was not a disagreement over the general aims, but merely a different view over the methods and means to achieve the end which was and still is common to both nations.