Montenegrin–Serbian relations
Map indicating locations of Montenegro and Serbia

Montenegro
Serbia

Montenegrin–Serbian relations are foreign relations between Montenegro and Serbia. From 1918 until 2006, the two states were united under the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, and Serbia and Montenegro. There is controversy regarding the national identity of Montenegro due to recent political developments in the region. There is a debate on the ethnic identification of Montenegrins (whether they are Serbs or not), and the name of the national language (Montenegrin versus Serbian). Despite this, the two countries have maintained mostly friendly relations.

History

Pre-Yugoslavia

Prince Peter of Serbia (1) and Princess Zorka of Montenegro (2) with family in Cetinje (ca. 1890)
Princess Natalija from the House of Obrenović and Prince Mirko of Montenegro (1902)
Serbian and Montenegrin soldiers in Đakovica during the Balkan Wars (1913)

Before Yugoslavia existed, there was very little distinction between Serbs and Montenegrins as both peoples largely held allegiance to the Serbian Orthodox Church, which directly influenced the establishment of the Prince-Bishopric of Montenegro in 1697.[1][2] Petar II Petrović-Njegoš, one of the most historic rulers of the theocratic Montenegrin Prince-Bishopric, composed literature which would later be considered the backbone of the history of Montenegrin literature.

World War I and Yugoslavia

After the Congress of Berlin formally recognized the independence of the de facto sovereign states, relations were improving until officially established in 1897. The Kingdom of Montenegro was Serbia's closest ally in World War I until surrendering to Austria-Hungary in 1916. Montenegro was annexed and subsequently declared under governance of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia on December 20, 1918.[3] Weeks after this date, separatist Montenegrin Greens under Krsto Zrnov Popović started a violent insurrection against pro-Yugoslav unionists known as the Christmas Uprising on January 7, 1919.[4] Despite their separatism, they declared themselves as Serbs.[5]

World War II

After the Invasion of Yugoslavia, two challenging resistance groups were active in the territories of Serbia minor and Montenegro; the Yugoslav Partisans and the Chetniks. Serbs and Montenegrins composed 35% of the ethnic composition of Yugoslav Partisans in World War II.[6] Montenegrins have been cited to have been the second largest group within the Chetnik movement after the Serbs.[7][8] Montenegrin Chetniks were led and organized largely by Pavle Đurišić, a controversial commander who was killed with his army by Croatian Nazi collaborators in the Battle of Lijevče Field.[9] Đurišić is considered a part of Serbian-Montenegrin history as he was a Serbian-Montenegrin unionist, which is thought to be the reason why Montenegrin separatist Sekula Drljević aided Ustaša forces to kill him.[9]

Serbia and Montenegro as member states of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (1992–2003)

Comparison of life expectancy in Serbia and Montenegro

The first Serbian Republic and the Montenegrin republic composed the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia during the breakup of Yugoslavia.[10] Montenegro remained a part of Yugoslavia after an overwhelming majority of the population voted for unity with Serbia in 1992. In the Yugoslav Wars, Montenegrin forces notably led the Siege of Dubrovnik.[11] Radovan Karadžić, former war-time president of Republika Srpska and convicted war criminal, is often mistaken as a Bosnian Serb—he was in fact born in Šavnik to a family from the Drobnjak tribe. He was known to have supported a united state between Republika Srpska, Serbia, and Montenegro.[12] Throughout his mandate, Yugoslav president Slobodan Milošević appointed several Montenegrin politicians like Milo Đukanović and Svetozar Marović who would cooperate with his regime to a great degree[13][14] and then denounce him years later.[15][16] On February 4, 2003, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia changed its name to Serbia and Montenegro.[17] The Constitutional Charter of Serbia and Montenegro, the amended constitution of the previous Federal Republic, allowed either of the two member states to hold an independence referendum once every three years.[18] After the assassination of Zoran Đinđić on March 12, 2003, a massive police operation dubbed Operation Sabre was undertaken by the government of Serbia and Montenegro in which various locations in Montenegro (particularly Budva) were investigated due to previous assassination attempts originating from there.

Montenegrin independence referendum (2006)

Map of the territorial subdivisions of Serbia and Montenegro

The last independence referendum in Montenegro was held on May 21, 2006.[19] It was approved by 55.5% of voters, narrowly passing the 55% threshold set by the European Union. By 23 May, preliminary referendum results were recognized by all five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, indicating widespread international recognition of Montenegro once independence would be formally declared. On 31 May the referendum commission officially confirmed the results of the referendum, verifying that 55.5% of the population of Montenegrin voters had voted in favor of independence. Milo Đukanović, the PM at the time, was the leader of the pro-independent bloc centered around the Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro. Predrag Bulatović led the coalition of pro-unionist parties during the referendum campaign.

Contemporary relations

Montenegro has an embassy in Belgrade and Serbia has an embassy in Podgorica. Both countries are full members of the Council of Europe, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), and the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA). Both countries are also recognized as potential candidate countries by the European Union.

Montenegro's recognition of Kosovo

After the Kosovo declaration of independence, Serbia expelled the ambassador of Montenegro in October 2008, following the Montenegrin recognition of the independence of Kosovo. Montenegrin Prime Minister Milo Đukanović slammed his colleague's forced removal from Belgrade, claiming that relations between the two nations have become "unacceptably bad."[20] Almost one year later Serbia finally accepted Igor Jovović as the new Montenegrin ambassador.[21]

SNS government in Serbia (2012–present)

PM of Montenegro Zdravko Krivokapić and Ana Brnabić, Belgrade 2021

After being elected the new Serbian president in May 2012, SNS-candidate Tomislav Nikolić gave an interview to Televizija Crne Gore, during which he stated:

I recognize Montenegro like a state, but not any difference between Serbs and Montenegrins, because there is none.

— Tomislav Nikolić, Pobjeda, Podgorica (2012)[22][23]

In June 2014, a subtle media conflict ensued between Đukanović and Serbian PM Aleksandar Vučić. Multiple Serbian tabloids, including Informer and Kurir had published articles discussing Đukanović's alleged relationship to threats and attacks on Montenegrin journalists.[24] Đukanović immediately reacted to the Serbian tabloid articles, and released a series of controversial statements on June 17, calling the articles "the most ordinary stupidity," and adding that "I believe my colleague in Belgrade will get to the bottom of these writings which reminisce about 2003."[25] The statement about 2003 was directly referring to the assassination of Zoran Đinđić, who was in 2003 the prime minister of Serbia. Many news portals in Serbia regarded Đukanović's comments to Vučić as having a threatening nature.[25][26]

On November 28, 2020, the Serbian Ambassador to Montenegro, Vladimir Božović, was declared a persona non grata due to his controversial statement regarding the Podgorica Assembly.[27] Afterwards he was expelled from Montenegro. As of February 2023, a new Ambassador of Serbia to Montenegro has still not been named.

In February 2021, Serbia donated 4,000 COVID-19 vaccines to Montenegro. Prime Minister Ana Brnabić stated the intention behind the donation is "to open a new chapter in relations between Serbia and Montenegro" and "to show solidarity in the time of crisis".[28][29]

By theme

Crime

The Montenegrin mafia is known to operate illegally in Serbia, most especially in Belgrade.[30][31] It is thought that Montenegrin elements induced the assassination of Serbian warlord Arkan on January 15, 2000.[32][33] On October 9, 2009, Montenegrin businessman Branislav Šaranović who owned the casino in Slavija Hotel in Belgrade was killed by firearms in the city's upscale neighbourhood of Dedinje by two masked assassins.[34] A new wave of assassinations by Montenegrin underworld criminals began with a car bomb that killed controversial businessman Boško Raičević in Dorćol on June 23, 2012.[35] Only a couple of weeks later, Tanjug released a report claiming that the long-disappeared Montenegrin drug lord Darko Šarić offered a €10 million contract for professional assassins to liquidate Boris Tadić, Ivica Dačić, and other Serbian politicians and police chiefs.[36][37]

Serbs of Montenegro

Montenegrins of Serbia

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Montenegro–Serbia relations.

References

  1. ↑ Victoria Clark, Why angels fall: a journey through Orthodox Europe from Byzantium to Kosovo, p. 93
  2. ↑ Robert Bideleux, Ian Jeffries, A history of eastern Europe: crisis and change, p. 86
  3. ↑ Gligorijević, Branislav (1979) Parliament i političke stranke u Jugoslaviji 1919–1929 Institut za savremenu istoriju, Narodna knjiga, Belgrade, page ??, OCLC 6420325
  4. ↑ Slobodna Evropa - Bozicni ustanak izaziva kontroverze na 90. godisnjicu - 7 January 2010
  5. ↑ Banac, Ivo (1992), Protiv straha : članci, izjave i javni nastupi, 1987-1992 (in Croatian), Zagreb: Slon, p. 14, OCLC 29027519, retrieved 12 December 2011, Posebno je zanimljivo da su se i »zelenaši«,...., nacionalno smatrali Srbima" [it is especially interesting that Greens also ... declared themselves as Serbs]
  6. ↑ Ramet 1996, p. 153.
  7. ↑ Tomasevich (1975), p.171
  8. ↑ Pavlowitch (2007), p.112
  9. 1 2 Tomasevich (1975), pp. 446–448
  10. ↑ 1999 CIA World Factbook: Serbia and Montenegro
  11. ↑ Investigative Summary. International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. Accessed 4 September 2009.
  12. ↑ Daily report: East Europe, Issues 191-210. United States. Foreign Broadcast Information Service. pp. 38. (A recorded conversation between Branko Kostic and Srpska's President Radovan Karadzic, Kostic asks whether Karadzic wants Srpska to be an autonomous federal unit in federation with Serbia, Karadzic responds by saying that he wants complete unification of Srpska with Serbia as a unitary state similar to France.)
  13. ↑ Central European Political Studies Review The Making of Party Pluralism in Montenegro
  14. ↑ The Smartest Man In The Balkans, Radio Free Europe, October 17, 2008
  15. ↑ Inspirational quotes, words, sayings - Svetozar Marovic
  16. ↑ Washington Post - June 25, 1999 - Montenegro easing away from Serb Ally
  17. ↑ "Profile: Serbia and Montenegro". BBC News. 2006-06-05.
  18. ↑ Worldstatesmen - Serbia Montenegro Constitution 2003 PDF
  19. ↑ Nohlen, D & Stöver, P (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p1372 ISBN 978-3-8329-5609-7
  20. ↑ Press Online - Vesti 1 February 2009 - Djukanovic: Odnosi Crne Gore i Srbije nedopustivo losi
  21. ↑ Tadić primio akreditivna pisma novoimenovanih ambasadora (VIDEO)
  22. ↑ Pobjeda - 29 May 2012 - Nikolić za TVCG: Priznajem Crnu Goru, ali ne i razlike između Crnogoraca i Srba Archived 21 February 2013 at archive.today
  23. ↑ B92 - May 29, 2012 - Podgorici ne smeta izjava Tomislava Nikolica
  24. ↑ "MILO SPREMA UDAR NA SRBIJU: Đukanović napada medije da bi preuzeo kontrolu!".
  25. 1 2 Unknown. "Đukanović upozorava Vučića, Vučić: država je jača".
  26. ↑ Blic: Đukanović upozorava Vučića, srpski premijer poručio da je država jača (in Serbian) 17 June 2014
  27. ↑ "Ambasador Srbije proglašen personom non grata u Crnoj Gori, Srbija odgovorila recipročno". Radio Slobodna Evropa (in Montenegrin). 28 November 2020. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  28. ↑ Serbia, RTS, Radio televizija Srbije, Radio Television of. "Вакцине из Србије стигле у Црну Гору; Брнабић: Важно нам је да и комшије буду безбедне". www.rts.rs. Retrieved 2021-02-17.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  29. ↑ "Stiglo 2.000 vakcina Sputnjik V; Brnabić: Doniraćemo još ako bude potrebno". vijesti.me (in Serbian). Retrieved 2021-02-17.
  30. ↑ Novi Magazin - Rat crnogorske mafije u Beogradu - June 25, 2012
  31. ↑ Kurir-Who is the boss of the mob? (Title translated in English)
  32. ↑ Minister of information Matić accuses the Montenegrin mafia for the assassination of Arkan
  33. ↑ Arkanove ubice štiti država!, Press, 15 January 2008
  34. ↑ Press Online - Vesti - Kriminalci opet haraju Srbijom: Crnogorska mafija ubija po Beogradu! October 10, 2009
  35. ↑ Slobodna Evropa - Kriminalni obracuni vracaju li se devedesete na beogradske ulice - July 25, 2012
  36. ↑ Vijesti - Svijet - 16 July 2012 - Saric nudio 10 miliona likvidaciju visokih funkcionera Srbije
  37. ↑ Press Online 17 July 2012 Saric unajmio placene ubice
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