Montenegro Celebrates Five Years of Independence

Montenegrins celebrate independence

On May 21, Montenegro marks five years since it voted in a referendum to leave its state union with Serbia and become an independent state, a period that President Filip Vujanovic describes as "very successful".

Speaking on Friday, Vujanovic said that Montenegro had gained a great international reputation in the years since independence. While calling the country, "the house of all people, where everyone can live freely”, Vujanovic noted that there is more work to be done to overcome political divisions.

"Over the past five years we could have done more to overcome the internal political divisions in the country," the president told reporters on Friday.

Montenegrins marked the five-year anniversary with a series of celebrations and receptions organised by local and state authorities, as well as concerts by local artists in Cetinje and Bijelo Polje.

The government ceremony in Cetinje was attended by representatives of the Montenegrin media, representatives of the NGO sector and civil society, former and current ministers of the government of Montenegro, as well as state judges and prosecutors. Many foreign diplomats and ambassadors, as well as businessmen and cultural workers, also attended the celebration.

The ceremony was attended by leaders of the Movement for Change, PZP, while the rest of the opposition was not present.

Montenegro's Prime Minister Igor Luksic said at the reception that Montenegro stands out as an example of progress in the modern world.

"Montenegro is now a prominent member of the international community, a candidate for membership in the European Union and other Euro-Atlantic organisations and a country which contributes significantly to regional stability,"  Luksic told his guests in Cetinje on Friday night.

Miodrag Vukovic, MP from the ruling Democratic Party of Socialists, DPS, said that the results achieved in the past five years show that the restoration of independence was the right decision.

"When we look at the results in resolving political and economic issues, the path towards the European Union, then we can only say that Montenegro has accomplished much in the past five years," Vukovic said.

Nebojsa Medojevic, head of the opposition party Movement for Change,  PZP,  told reporters that the current government of Montenegro has a very negative international image.

"Unfortunately, only the first part of this story is over. Montenegro became independent from Serbia in 2006, but did not become independent from their criminal elite and mafia," Medojevic said.

Dragan Koprivica, a MP from the Socialist People's Party, the SNP, said it was obvious that the idea of Montenegro's independence was misused for the “personal interests of some Montenegrin strongmen”. He added, however, that the EU has recognised the political anomaly in postreferendum Montenegro and decided to help her, which is a positive thing.

Meanwhile, the vice-president of the New Serbian Democracy, NOVA, Goran Danilovic, said that five years after independence it is clear that Montenegro is a party state.

"It is more than indicative that on the day we mark the fifth anniversary of Montenegro's independence, the ruling party, DPS, will hold their Sixth Congress, which will establish the rule of Milo Djukanovic. This sends the message that May 21 is a holiday of Djukanovic and his family, and not Montenegro's citizens," said Danilovic.

On Saturday, the ruling Democratic Party of Socialists, DPS, held its sixth party congress, at which members were set to elect the party leadership. The only candidate for president is the incumbent president of the party and former prime minister of Montenegro, Milo Djukanovic.

Serbia's ruling parties, the Democratic Party and the Socialist Party of Serbia, meanwhile refused to send representatives to the DPS congress in Podgorica on Saturday following recent comments by Djukanovic.

Belgrade Mayor Dragan Djilas and Serbian Education Minister Zarko Obradovic decided to cancel their attendance at the congress, Balkan Insight learned from the Democratic Party, after Djukanovic's statement earlier this week that “Montenegro continues to be the target of "the Great Serbia project”.

Looking back at five years of independence

While Montenegro has made clear progress in the past five years, including gaining EU candidate status in December last year, most analysts agree that there is more work to be done.

Kennenth Morrison, a UK lecturer and author of a history of Montenegro, recently wrote in a comment for Balkan Insight that the country had consolidated its independence five years after the referendum, and has made steady progress as an independent state.

"The country has consolidated its position among its neighbours, and made great strides toward achieving the government’s core objective - Euro-Atlantic integration. In December 2010, Montenegro was formally awarded candidate status by the European Commission, a significant milestone in the wider accession process. Additionally, although there is less domestic consensus on the issue, Montenegro has made progress toward NATO membership," Morrison wrote in March.

Many Montenegrins agree that the country has made important progress, but hope the economic situation will improve.

Danilo Vukcevic, a 23-year-old student of electrical engineering from Podgorica, says he is pleased that his country became independent but the government must do more to boost the economy of the country.

"Montenegro became independent on the day when I first had the chance to get out and vote as an adult and I am very glad that I participated in this historic moment for our country. However, the authorities have not fulfilled everything that was was promised and we should blame them for the difficult state of the economy in Montenegro," Vukcevic told Balkan Insight.

Jamina Brajovic, a teacher from Podgorica, told Balkan Insight that independence could have come much earlier, but, at that time, the political situation in the country didn't allow for that.

"Politics is still a strong part of the lives of Montenegrin citizens and it is not good, but I hope that the future of Montenegrin society will depoliticize," Brajovic said.

According to official results, turn-out for Montenegro's referendum on independence was 85.5 per cent, or 419,240 people. 55.5 per cent of eligible voters, or 230 661 people, voted in favour of independence, and 185,002 or 44.5 per cent, voted against.

Montenegro officially declared independence on June 3, 2006.