Everything we have jointly achieved since 2006, has been brought into question now. By that, I mean high level of results in the context of multi-ethnic relations, exercise of human and minority rights, integration of minority nations into state institutions. That will be a test for the new majority, Mr Rafet Husović, president of Bosnik party said in the interview for Pobjeda.
What is it that Bosniak party couldn’t get over when deciding about being part of the new government?
Mr Husović: Analyzing the new composition of the ruling majority, from the very beginning, the public was asked whether the Bosniak Party, as a national party of pro-European orientation, has a place in a coalition with, in our opinion, unnatural allies. The composition of the new majority also includes some parties that are ideologically quite different from the BP, and our unique decision on the Main Board is the result of principled thinking. We believe that at this moment we should not be part of the current ruling majority. In that way, we give a chance to all those subjects with whom we do not share the same thoughts about the past, but also about the future of Montenegro, to show that they truly want to build a civil Montenegro and to honestly see minority peoples as partners.
Did you talk with Mr Zdravko Krivokapić about concrete positions in the future government?
Mr Husović: It was a constructive conversation, where I talked with Prime Minister-designate , Mr Krivokapić, at his invitation, about how we see the future of Montenegro. We agreed that the period ahead is full of challenges, both in political and economic sense. Specifically, I called on prime minister-designate to start building some kind of partnership and cooperation, in order to reach mutual trust, all with the goal of making Montenegro a place for the life of all its citizens. When it comes to seats in government, there was no talk of it.
What’s your comment on the views of some members of the Black and White coalition, Justice and Reconciliation party to be more precise, stating that you “have put your personal interest before the improvement of your people’s position”?
Mr Husović: I have already said that the decision not to be part of the government is the best political decision of the BP after the referendum. The opinion of certain parties and politicians that we were guided by personal interests is initially meaningless and is an example of political populism. I remind you that a single decision was made that BP should not be part of the new ruling majority. If we know that the members of the committee are predominantly ministers, directors, secretaries, advisors and other former government officials, and that by voting not to be part of the government they voted to remain without those positions, then it is clear that the principles on which we built the party all these years were crucial when we made this decision.
What do you think about the statement made by Mr Dritan Abazović, that BP’s decision is expected and that the new government will have Bosniaks and Albanians?
Mr Husović: I will be really happy if Bosniaks and Albanians are part of this government. The key is whether these representatives will have the legitimacy to represent Bosniaks. Based on the election result, the Bosniak Party is the legitimate and only representative of its people. The best confirmation of that is almost 16.500 votes. If Mr Abazović thinks that someone who does not have legitimacy with his people, and at the same time does not have a single parliamentary mandate in the Assembly, will represent the interests of an entire people, in this case Bosniaks, then he is grossly mistaken. This statement is the attempt to give legitimacy to the new majority.
What’s your comment on the Mr Nik Đeljošaj’s statement who said that minority parties should cooperate with the future government?
Mr Husović: I think we should wait for the final decision, before giving any comment. In essence, minority parties should cooperate or be part of a government, but provided that the constituent entities, minority peoples and their legitimate political representatives are seen as equal in all respects, and not as mere decor to disguise their true nature. As I have repeated many times, some political entities, which are today the key constituents of the new government in Montenegro, have openly expressed a negative attitude towards members of minority nations, and therefore I believe that at the moment minority nations have no place in this ruling majority. We give them a chance to show a sincere departure from such rhetoric and convince us that they want true cooperation on an equal basis.
Do you expect that the new parliamentary majority will manage to form the government within the deadline prescribed?
Mr Husović: I think they will. Despite all the problems they have, they will probably find a compromise. However, if we see that there is no consensus on the composition of the government, on the division of responsibilities, the question is really how this new majority will harmonize the government’s policy, how it will agree on the continuation of Montenegro’s European path. If we add to all that that a challenging period awaits us in terms of the economy, then everything related to the new majority is a path to uncertainty.
Mr Andrija Popović said that Montenegro “has been in danger since the new parliamentary majority was formed”. What do you think?
Mr Husović: Everything we have done together since 2006, when we worked diligently to build the civic character of society, has been brought into question. When I say that, I mean the high level of results achieved in terms of multiethnic relations, the realization of human and minority rights, the integration of minority peoples into state institutions. And that will be a test for the new majority, to show that it really respects that Montenegro is a civil state, that the minority peoples, who gave the stamp of Montenegro’s independence, are part of the social being of this state.
Will you run for the president of BP in the forthcoming Congress?
Mr Husović: At the last session, we made the decision to start preparatory actions and set a date for the congress. The plan is for it to be in the first half of next year. At this point, it is too early to answer that question. Nevertheless, I am convinced that we will choose the leadership and party bodies which will be the strength of our party in the next ten years. Now we are much more ready in terms of personnel.
What is the position of Bosniaks in Montenegro like today? How do Bosniaks feel after the events that took place in Pljevlja?
Mr Husović: If we go back 15 years and look at the position of the Bosniak people today, then we must state that this position has significantly improved. Thanks in large part to the wise policy of the BP, Bosniaks have become part of the process, both on the political and social scene of Montenegro. What is indicative is that in the previous period, we could hear from some subjects who will now be in power that Bosniaks and Albanians cannot govern Montenegro. And during the election celebration, we witnessed that Bosniaks were the target of attacks in Pljevlja and other cities. My message to everyone is that Bosniaks are on their own, that this is our state and that every attack on any Bosniak is an attack on civil and multi-ethnic Montenegro.
