On Sunday, for the umpteenth time, Montenegro will be defending European idea in the Balkans. Events in the entire region will depend on the elections in your country. Therefore, Montenegro shall remain the lighthouse of pro-Western and pro-European thought. Montenegro like that does not suit interests of the Kremlin and the political elite that leads Russia and I’m afraid you might face incidents in the night between Sunday and Monday. Such scenario has already been announced by pro-Great Serbian and pro-Kremlin forces in Montenegro, says in the interview with Dnevne novine leader of Social Democrats of Vojvodina, Mr Nenad Čanak.
As experienced politician who is well-acquainted with the circumstances in the region, what’s your opinion about the pre-election stage in lead-up to the elections?
Mr Čanak: Montenegro has been exposed to attacks from the outside for a long time. These attacks are coming from two sides: from the part of the public called “deep state” in Serbia, the part that has never come to terms with the fact that Montenegro is an independent and sovereign state but see its independence as betrayal of Serbian countries and alliance of Serbian countries, which is a euphemism for “Great Serbia”. In that context, a negative emotion towards sovereign Montenegro comes from Belgrade, maybe not official Belgrade.
And on the other side?
Mr Čanak: On the other side, interests of Kremlin always hinged on Montenegro being its safe partner in the Adriatic region. As long as Montenegro is pendant of the politics of Belgrade, and the politics of Belgrade is pendant of the interests of Kremlin, Russia will have the possibility to make for the exit to the hot sea, which would mean eternal Kremlin’s dream coming true. On the other side, independent Montenegro headed towards West and NATO member has shattered the plan.
However, no one has never asked one simple question: why is there so much pressure about orthodoxy as the basis for the conflict which is currently raging in MNE? If the orthodoxy is reason, why hasn’t Russia established tighter connections with the country that has access to the sea and deeply-rooted orthodox tradition, such as Greece? How’s that Greece isn’t Kremlin’s target, but Montenegro is? By Kremlin I mean political elite in Russia.
And do you have any explanation?
Mr Čanak: Of course I do. It’s simple. Greece is undeniably in the West and it’s EU member state and NATO member. For Russia, Greece can’t be touched. They still cherish hopes that it is possible to rewind the wheel of history and bring Montenegro back into the colonial position. That’s the core of everything that is taking place right now.
It can be characterized as raising hopes that Mr Milo Đukanović, as personification of independent Montenegro, will be defeated in the elections. This isn’t pre-election campaign, this is build-up of the energy level in the awareness of opponents of Mr Milo Đukanović. If Mr Đukanović is not defeated, then it will mean that elections are “rigged” and that the “dictator” must be eliminated through new coup that should be successful this time.
Seems like you are quite sure that some incidents will occur. Why?
Mr Čanak: It’s clear that such scenario is underway. Judging by all the pressures Montenegro is exposed to… Even judging by the events in the Republiks Srpska, which has turned into the most vulgar from of the representatives of interests of Kremlin in the Balkan region. Serbia is still fighting but is under the influence of Moscow due to the economic dependence on Russia and it just can’t get out of that bear hug. Therefore, it’s obvious the objective is some sort of political pressure on Montenegro which will lead to conflict after elections, in case pro-European and pro-NATO forces win, which I don’t doubt will happen. But pro-Kremlin opposition in MNE has already laid the grounds for incidents. They are referring to the research that was to their advantage and any other result will be denounced as scam and lie.
So they will claim again that it was rigged vote. They are referring to the research that shows that they could have more terms of office that DPS, if they unite…
Mr Čanak: The only valid research is election day. Personally, I don’t put trust in research. When we started campaign for republic elections in Serbia, according to the research we had over 10%, but finally we didn’t even pass the census.
We’ll see what this Sunday will bring to you. I hope that election will be peaceful and held in democratic atmosphere, but I still fear attempts of incidents. The fight for pro-European Montenegro does not begin on Sunday but on Monday.
We want to believe that Montenegrin citizens won’t buy the story about “stolen elections”…
Mr Čanak: I am sure they won’t. But the forces I mentioned don’t care. They will keep repeating the same story. By the way, why would Mr Đukanović have any reason to deceive voters’ free will, if Montenegro is European, sovereign home to its citizens, regardless of their national of religious affiliation and if of all countries. It’s the closest to acceding the EU? Things should be observed from this angle and realize how incoherent the story of the opposition is.
Serbian Orthodox Church just won’t give up provocations. This time, it’s direct participant in the pre-election campaign. What’s your comment?
Mr Čanak: I knew from the very start that religious processions were in fact political gatherings where the church uses a specific number of believing people, with pure religious feelings, and tried to convince them that they will be deprived of something. So, religious processions have always had only one objective- to eliminate Montenegro as independent country and boil its role down to just being an extension of the politics of Belgrade or Kremlin.
In that sense, these elections really are historic…
Mr Čanak: And that’s a fact. Montenegro will be defending its independence on Sunday, its path to the West, its civilization achievements.
Nobody says that there isn’t a certain amount of authoritarianism but if we take a look at everything that has been happening in some countries, you’ll realize how much progress Montenegro has made meanwhile.
That progress is being threatened now.
How comes that church is the patron of political parties and a leader of protests in Montenegro?
Mr Čanak: It’s about money first and then about the political influence. And considering the fact that a great number of church facilities are emerging, it’s clear they are doing pretty well financially.
The law does not apply to them. I can sadly state that the diocese in Srem has started deforestation process in Fruška gora. That’s a terrible thing and that shows that the cloak is above the law.
Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral and priests of SOC are trying to sell the story that the current government has destroyed our traditional values, as if these values were the merit of the church. What is behind these messages?
Mr Čanak:I will use the comparison that refers to Iran. Citizens of Iran were dissatisfied with Rez Pahlavi. Then came Homeini and look how they live now. One should take a look at the photos from the beginning of the 70s of the last century and compare them to today. In 1970s, Tehran was the same as any other European capital, while today it’s completely different.
I point this out to warn about the danger messages of Serbian priests imply. Are they saying that Montenegro should become orthodox Jamahiriya? Everything that SOC is doing has nothing to do with religion. And I am very worried, because fight for Montenegro won’t finish on Monday morning. It will actually begin.
Attack on Turkish actor in Budva shows how far opposition is ready to go. What’s your comment?
Mr Čanak: The actor who was thought to be someone working for Mr Milo Đukanović… that clearly shows what would happen if these opposition groups seized the power. This paranoid atmosphere serves to show that if Montenegro can’t be defeated the easy way, then the government will be ousted the hard way.
16 chetnik associations in Republika Srpska
What’s your opinion on the media campaign against Montenegro, conducted from Serbia?
Mr Čanak: I think Mr Vučić is concerned about what might happen. What is going in MNE, is an example of what might happen to him in case he reaches any agreement with Priština.
And I’m talking about Mr Vučić personally. I am sure he has much softer understanding of circumstances in MNE. But if he was asked to express his opinion publicly, he would expose himself to a great risk of being attacked by well-organized groups in Serbia.
You mean chetnik organizations?
Mr Čanak: It’s true that many chetnik organizations and associations have been formed lately, especially in Republika Srpska. Believe it or not, there are 16 such associations there. Bit every such organization is somebody’s project and has a task.
