Vuksanović: Montenegro's Government Has Shown It Respects Croatia

Montenegro's government, by deciding to send a chargé d'affaires from its embassy in Zagreb to the 31st anniversary of the military-police operation Storm in Knin, has demonstrated respect for Croatia, assessed Adrijan Vuksanović, president of the Croatian Civic Initiative and leader of the largest party of Croats in Montenegro.

Vuksanović interpreted this gesture as an expression of "respect for Croatia and its struggle for freedom and territorial integrity". In contrast, he sharply criticized the stance of Montenegrin President Jakov Milatović, who believed that attendance at the commemoration was not necessary.

Milatović's "Political Wandering"

Vuksanović called Milatović's assessment a continuation of "political wandering". "The Montenegrin president's political approach is to be on good terms with everyone, and in the end, you end up on good terms with no one," Vuksanović stated. He added that if Milatović wants to be objective, he must clearly identify the causes of the wars in the former Yugoslavia.

Earlier, the Office of President Milatović announced that participation in the Operation Storm commemoration is not a state obligation of Montenegro. The statement noted that part of the Croatian public views the event as a symbol of victory, while part of the Serbian community perceives it as a symbol of suffering and persecution. "Montenegro fosters good relations with Croatia, but they do not imply mandatory participation in events that evoke painful memories for some citizens," the statement said, adding that state policy should be measured and focused on respecting all victims.

Regional Reactions and Expectations

The Montenegrin government's decision was previously fiercely criticized by Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić. On the other hand, Vuksanović believes that Croatia will appreciate the Montenegrin government's move, which he sees as an important step forward in bilateral relations.