Statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

In exercising his inalienable right to express his personal views, President Vučić did not utter a single derogatory word regarding Montenegro or in connection with Montenegro. He merely expressed a fully legitimate and in no way offensive position — namely, that he does not wish to celebrate the separation of two close and brotherly states.

It is with regret that we note that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro continues to resort to rhetoric that does not contribute to the development of good-neighbourly relations and mutual respect between two mutually recognized sovereign states.

Following the referendum held in Montenegro in 2006, the Republic of Serbia, without any delay and in full, recognized Montenegro’s independence and established diplomatic relations with it. In doing so, Serbia clearly demonstrated that it respects and does not call into question Montenegro’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, or European path.

However, this does not mean that Serbia should remain silent in the face of attempts to erase or relativize historical truth and facts. Both Montenegro and Serbia were members of a state union, but for centuries prior to that they had also been part of the same state and, to a considerable extent, shared the same people and the same destiny. President Aleksandar Vučić did not challenge Montenegro’s independence — on the contrary, he has repeatedly stated that Serbia regards Montenegro as a brotherly and friendly state. What he emphasized was that Montenegro’s independence cannot and must not be used as a pretext for denying the Serbian identity, culture, language, and faith of a large number of Montenegro’s citizens, nor for encouraging divisions within Montenegrin society.

It is unacceptable and politically irresponsible to portray every reference to our shared history or every expression of concern for the position of Serbs in Montenegro as “revisionism,” “patronage,” or an “insult.” Montenegro celebrates its independence — and it has every right to do so. However, that celebration must not be transformed into a campaign against Serbia and the Serbian people, nor into an attempt to erase from history everything that binds us together.

Serbia remains firmly committed to the development of good-neighbourly relations with Montenegro, based on equality, mutual respect, and non-interference in internal affairs. Such relations, however, cannot be built upon a selective interpretation of history, the denial of the identity of one people in another state, or rhetoric that fosters confrontation instead of cooperation.

The anniversary of the restoration of Montenegro’s independence is an opportunity for both our states to turn toward a future that is European, prosperous, and shared — one in which Serbs and Montenegrins will live as brothers, not as strangers. Serbia is ready for such a future. We expect Montenegro to demonstrate the same readiness.