Podgorica's Move Toward Knin: Vuksanović Sees It as a Sign of Respect for Zagreb

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

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

The President's "Political Wandering"

Vuksanović called Milatović's assessment a continuation of "political wandering". "The political approach of the Montenegrin president 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 Storm commemoration is not a state obligation for 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 nurtures 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 mutual relations.