FRY - Montenegro

In the light of the rising tensions between Serbia and Montenegro and just held elections in Montenegro, Zoran Radulovic, of the Podgorica weekly Monitor, looks at the current developments in the May 22, 1998 issue of this magazine.

The speed with which always adjustable /former FRY prime minister/ Radoje Kontic was deposed of, as well as Momir Bulatovic' s appointment to his post, leads to a conclusion that the Federal President /Milosevic/ finds himself short of time and that he is forced to draw forced moves. He has no choice: moving Bulatovic to a federal post - thirteen days before the elections - speaks that even Milosevic, as well as his proteges in Montenegro, do not believe anymore in the reality of an electoral success. This due to the fact that the victory of /Bulatovic's/ SNP at the parliamentary elections would resolve, at least temporarily, a lot of acute problems Milosevic has with Montenegro. With a majority in the parliament, Bulatovic could not only neutralize or negate all moves of the Montenegro authorities, but would also have a possibility to directly threaten Djukanovic in his presidential position. It was Bulatovic himself who stated recently that, when his party acquires the power, one of its first moves will be to annul the results of the presidential elections and calling of new ones in October.

But, wishes are one thing, while the reality looks quite different. That is why it seems that Milosevic' s move was the only possible in the given position. With it, he will encourage the SNP supporters in the last days of the campaign, and at the same time, he will make preparations for action after the election results are made public. While in January Bulatovic was still a disgruntled loser, in June he could become a decisive prime minister who is fighting against electoral theft. And of course, steps once and for all in the way of the separatist regime in Montenegro.

So, conditions are being prepared for a new attempt to create chaos in Montenegro, which is announced more loudly every day by Bulatovic and his supporters. That is why with these recent decisions, all formal (Bulatovic is now the person deciding about the introduction of a state of emergency) and practical conditions are set for this. With his move to Belgrade, the former Montenegrin president is liberated of the biggest obstacle in his attempt to realize his and others dark plans in Montenegro - his own fear.

Montenegrin apprehensiveness are not a product of panic fears. This is proven by the express arrival of Richard Milse to Podgorica. At the time when unpleasant suggestions that the American administration will allow Milosevic to solve the Montenegrin question in a traditional manner at the expense of resolving the Kosovo problem, the head of the American mission in Belgrade brough a message from the Secretary of State Madleine Albright for the Montenegrin president. The fact that the content of the letter remains unknown testifies to the gravity of the situation, but also brings hope that the world will not allow Milosevic a new possibility to prove patriotism, peaceful and co-existence policies. Monitor' s sources say that the American administration has sent an encouraging message which says that the violence in Montenegro will definitely be prevented.

Of course, all in Serbia are aware what Milosevic and Bulatovic have in mind. Still, even though they have a clear picture of the planned catastrophe in front of them, it is still not enough for democratic Serbia to show, at least publicly, disagreement with the plans of the Balkan butcher.

So, all in accordance with historical traits, Montenegrin citizens will have to fight for their survival by themselves. The first step would have to be a joint electoral victory of those forces who have Montenegro as their joint interest and priority. It is only then when a fight against Milosevic and his puppets can be fought on equal footing.


Source: Podgorica weekly Monitor, May 22, 1998