On the occasion of the second anniversary of Montenegro’s membership in NATO Alliance, the President of the Atlantic Council of Montenegro, Dr. Savo Kentera, said that ” by joining NATO, we left a mark and created an image of stable and democratic country which can only contribute to the strengthening of the whole region’s stability”.

Dr. Kentera believes that citizens will see the benefits after about five years – “When we will see tangible results in the development of infrastructure, substantial reforms of system institutions that are yet to come, strengthening of the rule of law, the fight against organized crime and corruption, etc. All this requires time and we cannot expect visible results overnight, and the period of two years after the membership is truly too short to see great results and progress in these areas,” he said.

However, the greatest gain so far is the fact that Montenegro is sitting at the same table as the most powerful countries in the world and deciding on the burning global issues with an equal voting right, and when it comes to the direct benefits, he mentions that the increase in foreign investments doubled:

“The investors who are interested in investing long-term are coming to this region. They needed security, investment safety, they needed to have protection before the courts and to be sure that corruption is reduced to the minimum. They needed to know that they can exercise their rights in the same manner as in other countries.”

Changes in the type of guests coming to Montenegro are prominent: 

”Today, we are experiencing, in my opinion, the return to the golden age of Montenegrin tourism, the age when season lasted six months and when the majority of our guests were from Western countries. This came as a result of increased security, or tourists’ sense of security, because they are in a country which is a member of NATO”, he said.  

Also, Dr. Kentera reflected on Montenegro-Russia relations and mentioned the attempted terrorism on the day of parliamentary elections in 2016.  He said that ”this dramatic event has now only shifted, i.e. took a different form. This is not reflected in the possibility of them attempting a coup any time soon, but in the fact that they are trying to influence the public opinion in an underhand, sophisticated manner, through various media outlets, by creating a distorted image of the situation in the country”.

When it comes to the question of whether the number of those against the membership reduced in the meantime, Dr. Kentera emphasized that his personal opinion formed during the conversation with those who were against, is that the majority came to terms with the fact that Montenegro became a member of NATO: 

”They accept this fact as something we will have to live with, so let us see how can we benefit from it. It is a similar situation to that in 2006, after the referendum. As time passes, I am sure that the number of those refrained from or against the membership will reduce, because everyone will realize the benefits the membership brings”- he concluded. 

STALLING THE PROGRESS TOWARDS THE EU WOULD STRENGHTEN THE NATIONALISM IN THE REGION

The President of Montenegro, Milo Đukanović and his counterpart Hashim Thaçi, the President of Kosovo, concluded that strategic and political struggles are still present in the Balkans, nationalism is still alive, and is a consequence of historical lagging behind of the region, while the stalling on the path to the EU integration will be a generator of nationalism growth. 

The two presidents participated in the panel discussion ”Presidential discussion: In the mind of a leader” at the 9th To Be Secure (2BS) Forum in Budva. 

Speaking on the topic of the greatest concerns of a leader in the region, Đukanović said that the main preoccupation, but also daymare and nightmare is the question of  ”how to achieve what we have committed ourselves to as a strategic task.”

He evaluated that two powerful movements dominate the Balkan area.

”The first one is led by the governments aspiring to bring their countries to the EU and NATO, while the other one, not so powerless and not to be underestimated, is the one wanting to preserve the status quo. There are the reasons why they are against that movement.  This is not only a Balkan issue, but the European and Euro-Atlantic issue as well” said Đukanović

It is clear, as he said, that Montenegro is a leader on the path towards the EU and it is important to strengthen the regional cooperation. 

”It is clear now, at least in regard to Montenegro, that we are at a turning point to return the region to its European home. The solution lies in economic and democratic development. The strategic direction is the return to European home and value system, and the aim is to achieve the European quality of life”, stated Đukanović. 

Asked how he perceives the future of the European Union (EU), Đukanović stated that Europe will have to redesign itself.  

 ‘’There is no better consolidation of Europe than its union, which signifies the stability and usage of all the resources that will strengthen our competitiveness. Crises showed that there are serious flaws in the EU architecture’’, stated Đukanović. 

He is of opinion that the path will further lead to the recognition of the importance of Europe’s unification, ‘’which is of significance for Europe and our Euro-Atlantic partner”.

”This will have to include a certain reprofiling of Europe. I hope that flaws in Europe’s architecture will not overshadow the vision, and the vision is the Europe united in terms of competitiveness and stability”, emphasized Đukanović, addding that strengthening of Euro-Atlantic integration is the key. 

We must aspire to functional democracy, which is inexistent if certain actors abstain from political life, said Đukanović.

 “Please, let me explain this. Currently, we are the witnesses of the “repertoire on the scene” which includes a diverse destruction of democracy in this region. There is also an attempt of the opposition which wants to question the independence of Montenegro as well as particular decisions that Montenegro made, such as the Kosovo independence issue. They are desperately trying to present Montenegro as a dysfunctional country through the obstruction of institutions”, said Đukanović. 

Đukanović stated that the reason of nationalism in the Balkans lies in ‘’historical lagging behind of the region’’.

 “We all were sure that we combatted the idea of a high-state nationalism in the region, after the Dayton Agreement. But we did not, as we can see. The idea of nationalism is still alive. The fact that some forms of these ideas are approved by particular international instances should concern us, since it was not the case earlier”, said Đukanović.

It is not the time to play on the small fields, he said speaking about integration. One has better odds on the bigger field. 

 “Many are not ready to play at the Wembley Stadium, but it is not time to play only at the Sutjeska or Budućnost Stadium. One has better odds when playing on the bigger field. The third parties interfere and the problem occurs. We are the witnesses of the rebirth of one problem and if we thought that the problem from 1995 is solved, our opponents are clearly assuring us that it is not true. Our place is in the wider integration context”, said Đukanović.

To the question of how to successfully build multiethnic democracy, Đukanović stated that he unwaveringly believes in such concept, since every other alternative seems regressive.

”Every other approach is the attempt to ignore reality. Major players appeared on the global scene. Take a look at our neighborhood, it is not wise to look at each other through weapons’ scope. The solution is to build partnership. Montenegro is a multiethnic community”, said Đukanović, stating that any other concept would be an introduction to ethnic cleansing. 

He explained that the concept of multiethnic democracy must be the foundation of our policy and must equally be supported by those who are more developed than us. 

 ‘’Even beyond Montenegrin borders, there are detours from this policy. The European elections are not as catastrophic as it was expected, but, there was a turn to the right which may be encouraging for some in the region”, said Đukanović.

While commenting the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, Đukanović said that the years will be lost if we miss this opportunity and the best example for that is the decades-long lagging behind of the North Macedonia in a dispute with Greece.

”If I were an actor in this, which luckily I am not, I would try to find a solution by respecting the Badinter’s formula. Every deviation brings a certain danger. Serbia and Kosovo are not the only ones demarking, the demarcation between Serbia and Croatia is ahead of us, as well as Serbia and Bosnia, Bosnia and Croatia”, Đukanović pointed out, stating that the most crucial thing right now is the return of Aleksandar Vučić, President of Serbia and Hashim Thaçi to the negotiating table.

Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi said that official Prishtina is working hard on improvement of relations, and the main challenge is the acceleration of the EU accession process. 

He said that he is happy to be president to the citizens who are mostly pro-EU oriented, and that Kosovo is a successful story. 

”Obstacles can be overcome, but we cannot return to a position of daily political populism. After the membership of Montenegro in NATO and Prespa agreement, organizing of Kosovo Army and good communication that we are establishing with the neighbors in the region, I am optimistic”, said Thaçi. 

However, as he admits, the majority of dissatisfaction comes from the EU, which is slowing down the processes. 

“There is no any progress when it comes to the attitude towards Kosovo, success and achievements are not recognized, especially when it comes to the issues of Visa liberalization. The citizens have a hard time understanding it”, Thaçi said.

When it comes to nationalism, he says that we all have learnt something from the past, where the nationalism is leading and what kind of tragedies and consequences it has left in the Balkans.

 ‘’The region is not in the Dayton period and Serbia and Kosovo are not in the Rambouillet period. The region has changed for the better, but, the more the EU lags behind, the more nationalistic ideas will be in Kosovo. If Kosovo remains isolated, the rise of nationalism will occur, which is not in accordance with the Euro-Atlantic values. The EU perspective should be closer to the citizens. Otherwise, the conflict will be in focus, not the reconciliation. People will rightfully wonder if the EU wants Kosovo“, said Thaçi.

He said that the creation of the Republic of Srpska in Kosovo would destabilize it, admitting that the dialogue of the two countries is in crisis. The specificity of relations between Serbia and Kosovo due to the hard past affect this, but also, the difficulty to bring the final decision on the normalization of relations.

‘’In Serbia, that is a very delicate issue due to the false Kosovo Myth which is imposed on Serbia. This is the best moment to solve the problem. We are going back to the state of frozen conflict which may escalate. The agreement will bring peace to the whole Western Balkans“, Thaçi believes.

The President of Kosovo said that the territory exchange between Kosovo and Serbia was not at all on the agenda. He also mentioned the demarcation between Montenegro and Kosovo, stating that he was harshly criticized for this, but, this did not leave any negative impact on Montenegro, nor Kosovo.

Serbia led a very aggressive campaign in order to prevent the international consolidation of Kosovo, he said.

„Obstacle for the UNESCO membership is the result of the Serbia’s campaign. I do not advocate for the Palestinian model for the consolidation of Kosovo“, said Thaçi.

He announced the information that more than 70 percent of citizens want the agreement with Serbia which would be final and legally binding, in order to preserve the spirit, character and multiethnicity of Kosovo.

Speaking about his vision of the EU, Thaçi said that he wants to see the new approach towards the Western Balkans after the European elections.

 ‘’When it comes to the other ideas related to the Islamic fundamentalism, here on Kosovo we have traditional Islam, tolerant Islam which implies coexistence with others. We have the coexistence of the Islam, Orthodoxy and Catholicism“, Thaçi said.

In spite of traditional Islam in Kosovo, the identity of that country is European, he said.

’’The elements of extremism were not successful in 1998 or 1999. Nobody was tolerated. That is why we gained trust of the international community“, said Thaçi with the evaluation that Albanians in the region are fair people who think in a constructive manner.

‘’And that is an excellent accomplishment. There are no leadership deficits. These two leaders, Đukanović and Thaçi are creating history“. 

THE CONCLUSION OF THE SECOND PANEL OF 2BS FORUM: EUROPE NEEDS NATO ALLIANCE FOR PEACE AND STABILITY ON THE EUROPEAN CONTINENT

Developments in the Balkans show that Europe needs NATO Alliance for peace and stability of the European continent, is one of the messages conveyed during the panel discussion “Security reimagined: Ironclad commitment to the transatlantic alliance put to test“ which took place within the framework of To Be Secure (2BS) Forum in Budva. 

During his keynote speech, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Srđan Darmanović, noted that all the crises in member states are helping them understand that the existence of the Alliance is more important than differences they have in terms of viewpoints. 

“The developments in the Balkans show that Europe needs NATO and that NATO is important for the stability of the European continent. That is why we should advocate for more NATO-oriented solutions that will ensure progress in European defence capabilities, but also within the NATO Alliance. If we fulfill the obligations defined in Wales, we are investing  in our unity and solidarity” said Darmanović.

Defence spending, as he said, is not only a matter of equitable burden-sharing, but is essentially an issue of credibility and political unity of the Alliance. 

“Montenegro, still the newest ally, is currently 13th in the range of expenditures intended for the defence of 29 allies and is fully committed to fullfilling the obligation from Wales until 2024”, stated Darmanović.

In Darmanović’s opinion, NATO today operates in the most complex security environment in its history, countering “more diverse range of threats than ever before, from both east and the south“.

“Growing international assertiveness of Russia, its revisionist policy characterized by agressive actions is one of the most exciting features of the time we live in“, stated Darmanović. 

Steven Erlanger, Chief Diplomatic Correspondent in Europe for The New York Times, addressed the earlier statement of the American president, Donald Trump about how Montenegro could start the Third World War,  by saying that he has an impression that Montenegrins are very tall and very kind people. 

David Konecký, Political Director of the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Montenegro achieved remarkable progress.

He thinks that the membership in NATO or the EU is only the beginning. 

“NATO has to act for the benefit of every member and I think it does in regard to Russia“,stated Konecký.

Bruno Lété, Senior Fellow from the German Marshall Fund of the United States said that he aways gets astonished by how NATO pays far too little attention to China.

“China is an inevitable factor in European security. It already is in the economic system, China owns roads, ports“, said Lété.

As for Europe, he is of the opinion that the Europeans have not decided on the best model for their security. 

Stefano Stefanini, Director of Project Associates’ Brussels Office, stated that the cooperation between NATO and the EU represents an extremely significant issue. 

He thinks that reacting collectively on the question of China is not advisable. Speaking of the so-called common European army, he stated that the phrase “European army” should be prohibited.

Judy Ansley, Senior Advisor of the US Atlantic Council’s Future Europe Initiative, highlighted that the enhancement of competitiveness of major powers and Russian activities are the key threat to NATO.

“If we observe the activities performed in the Balkans, such as coup attempt in Montenegro or the developments in Ukraine, we can see that Russia is operating on the ground”. “NATO adapted well to those threats”, she estimated, stating that “we must be aware of the threats and react to them.”

Ansley also said that everyone is finding the capacity to combat hybrid threats within its own country. 

When it comes to Russia and Turkey, her greatest concern is Ankara’s purchase of Russian equipment.  She highlighted that she is not worried about China’s investments in Europe. 

Robert Pszczel, Senior Officer for Russia and the Western Balkans, stated that NATO must adapt. 

“If we did not adapt, we would not have a comprehensive cyber crime policy,” he said, adding that awareness of what Russia is doing today has increased.

Referring to the Turkish plans for purchase of Russian S-400 system, he stated that Turkey is a highly valued member of NATO, and that he would feel bad if any bilateral dispute arose.

Commenting on the possible impact of Brexit on NATO, Konecký said that models of cooperation are imaginable in the future, while Stefanini stated that there will be a political influence exerted on NATO. 

“The United Kingdom is a bond between Washington and Europe”,said Stefanini. 

It is of utmost importance that Europe keeps up with the enlargement policy, thus contributing to stability of the continent, said Montenegrin president Milo Djukanovic.

A two-day forum, gathering leaders and top leaders from the region, Europe and the USA, is organized by the Atlantic Council of Montenegro, with its focus on stability, security and future prosperity of the Western Balkans, in the context of the process in Europe and globally.

Speaking at the panel discussion of “Steering the helm of Europe amidst high tides and strong winds change”, Djukanovic said that everything said in the previous forum can be applied today as well.

“We are at the beginning of a new phase where ambitions of former global players are coming to life, and new global actors are also emerging, which must be inspiration for all”, said he.

Djukanovic remarked that, following recently held European Parliament elections, Europe continues living in a state of strategic confusion, caused by the crises, which hinders it to respond to the issue of Europe’s enlargement.

“EP elections ended better than expected. Radical and right-winged currents did not pick on power, and we can note that Europe remains on its political strategic course”, said Djukanovic.

He believes that it is of utmost importance that Europe keeps up with the enlargement policy, since it will contribute to stability of the continent.

Speaking about Euro-Atlantic partnership, he said that policy of full responsibility towards the alliance must be continued.

“The question if we would defend European values or let the Balkans to some third parties has been reflected in the Balkans currently”, Djukanovic said.

According to him, concerning the region, the issues transferred from the time of former Yugoslavia must be resolved.

The Montenegrin president said that Montenegro will continue strengthening partnerships in the region and beyond.

President of Slovenia Borut Pahor stated that the enlargement process will not be the main topic in the new European Commission’s agenda.

He argues that it must become clear to every EU member state that EU’s enlargement to the Western Balkans is a geopolitical issue, which is quite complex.

“Based on my experiences, I would say that it would be better if Brussels would observe the region as a whole, and we need a slightly different attitude of everyone in the region for that”, said Pahor, adding that it is the only possible path.

Defense Minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina Marina Pendes, asked if she was disappointed that the EC recommended opening the talks with Albania and North Macedonia, but not with BiH, responded that she is a bit disappointed, but also optimistic that this country will also soon find a solution.

German Defense Minister Thomas Silberhorn said that speed of progressing towards the EU depends on the countries, and not on the EC.

He added that there was reserve with some EU member states, in regard to enlargement, but that EP elections sent a clear message.