WORLD NEWS FOR MONTENEGRO DIASPORA
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SOURCE: POBJEDA / M.J.
Defense Minister Dragan Krapović's statement that the plaque in the former Morinj military camp was placed in the wrong way and that the inscription does not correspond to the facts, and that the plaque should be replaced by another with adequate text, is stupid and counterproductive. To speak like that about something that is a fact and to open up that story is to stick a finger in the neighbor's eye - says former Croatian Foreign Minister Vesna Pusić in a statement for Pobjeda.
She explains that it would be much smarter for the Government led by "Europe Now" to maintain good relations with someone who has a voice in the European Union.
That statement is stupid and counterproductive, because to talk like that about something that is a fact and open up that story means sticking a finger in your neighbor's eye. It would be much smarter for the Government led by "Europe now" to maintain good relations with someone who has a voice in the European Union, because no one advocates too much in the EU for Montenegro to enter as quickly as possible - says Pusić.
As a reminder, the Minister of Defense stated on Thursday that according to the agreements signed after the dissolution of Yugoslavia, Croatia has no right to claim the training ship "Jadran" and that they are not ready to negotiate ownership.
When asked if he expects problems with Croatia in the pre-accession negotiations with the EU regarding Prevlaka and the conflict over the ownership of the ship "Jadran", Krapović said that it is possible that there is a lot of blackmail potential, but that dialogue must be conducted.
We hope that through dialogue, through civilized, reasoned discussion, we will reach a solution. If this is not the case, things will be resolved before the courts - said Krapović.
Regarding the plaque in the former military camp, Morinj Krapović said that the plaque was placed in the wrong way and that the inscription does not correspond to the facts, and that this plaque should be replaced by another with adequate text.
Already on Saturday, the Croatian Defense Minister canceled the planned meeting with his Montenegrin counterpart.
The views of Minister Krapović, which he expressed in the media in recent days, leave no room for discussion and completely deviate from the views of the Republic of Croatia and historical facts - Croatian Defense Minister Ivan Anušić responded to Pobjeda's inquiry to comment on media allegations that he canceled the meeting with Krapović.
Commenting on Montenegro's European path, Pusić said that it is certain that there is no acceleration of the path to the EU with this president of the parliament and that the question is when this situation will be unblocked. To our question whether Europe tends to accept some problematic solutions because the people chose them, Pusić answered in the affirmative.
Yes, it is happening in Europe, but now we are facing a discussion about the elections in Serbia, and this will have consequences for the perception of the Serbian government, as well as the followers from Vučić's and Putin's circle. Europe itself does not know what to do because it is not a Europe that will be proactive. Only a proactive Europe could save Montenegro, but that will not happen because the EU will deal with the election of new EC leaders. With all these challenges, I believe that the Montenegrin government does not want to join the EU - says Pusić.
She explains that membership in the European Union is not the solution to all problems.
EU membership, speaking from Croatia's experience, gives context and a chance to make something better out of the country, and that does not mean that someone else will come and make something better for you. In fact, you just get an environment where more democratically oriented people want to make something decent out of their country, and if those people are not there, then there is no progress and nothing will happen. You see, very different countries make up the European Union today - Sweden, Belgium, Hungary, Romania... Some, while they were in the EU, did good things, and some, like say Hungary, didn't really. So, membership in the EU is not a guarantee that progress will be made, and even when you are in a situation where you are not a member of the EU and the political leadership is leading you in the opposite direction from your allies, then nothing happens - points out Pusić.
Croatian Foreign Minister Gordan Grlić Radman, commenting on Krapović's statements, said that the country is asking for the training ship "Jadran" to return to the port of Split, and if this cannot be resolved by agreement, as he stated, the possibility of involving international courts can be considered. .
Grlić Radman told HRT that Croatia cares about its neighbors and that the country has no hidden agenda, but wants to help Montenegro.
"Adriatic" is just a symbol. A lot of things related to military assets need to be resolved. We expect the return of the school ship "Jadran" to its home port of Split. Time is passing, we have to solve it as quickly as possible - said Grlić Radman from Bar. As for the school ship "Jadran", Radman Grlić points out that it is a Croatian ship that, at the time of the collapse of the former state, found itself undergoing overhaul in Tivat and remained there.
We consider it alienated property and request that it be returned to its home port of Split. If we cannot solve it bilaterally and by agreement, we can consider the possibility of involving the international court - he added Grlić Radman.
He reiterated that the decision of the Kotor Municipal Assembly to rename the sports facility after a person about whom, as he says, there are numerous disturbing testimonies due to the infamous actions and treatment of Croatian prisoners - Zoran Gopčević, the guard commander in the Morinj camp, is unacceptable.
We congratulated Montenegro for facing the past and for us the plaque in Morinje and the inscription are very important and we believe that they should not be the subject of discussion and should remain where they are - said Grlić Radman.
