President of the Republic of Montenegro

January 15, 2010

Podgorica, President of Montenegro Gives Interview to MINA News Agency

- Bound by the Government’s decision on recognition of independence of Kosovo brought in October 2008, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro has established diplomatic relations with Kosovo through the exchange of letters. What is your comment on this?

I have stated, several times, publicly, that it is under the competence of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, following the Government’s decision on recognition of independence of Kosovo, to establish diplomatic relations with Kosovo, thus implementing this decision. I find the significance of this act of implementation overemphasized, because it only represents diplomatic realization of the decision that has been already made. I believed and I still believe that, prior to the exchange of ambassadors with Kosovo, we should solve some open questions with this country. I consider it as a condition for this important diplomatic decision which, aside from the Government, falls within the competence of the President of the state who gives agréman and receives the letters of credence of the foreign ambassadors, and signs the decree on the appointment of our ambassadors.

- During the previous year, you were pointing out that these open issues are related to the return of refugees from Montenegro to Kosovo and recognition of Montenegrins as a minority along with their representation in the Government of Kosovo. What has been done so far to solve these issues?

For the return of the refugees, the state-level communication has been intensified, and our two national delegations have visited Kosovo, and one delegation from Kosovo visited Montenegro. Our two delegations, one headed by Rifat Rastoder, Deputy Speaker of the Parliament, and the other one headed by Minister Suad Numanovic have been provided with the assurances that the Kosovo authorities will do everything for a sustainable return of refugees from Montenegro to Kosovo. Delegation of the Government of Kosovo has stated recently, while visiting Montenegro, that the financial support was provided for the individual return of refugees and building of a Roma settlement on Kosovo for a collective return. Thus, a clear and positive state attitude was expressed towards the returning refugees from Montenegro to Kosovo. It is the fact that the insufficient number of refugees is returning, but now we have an official position of Kosovo concerning a sustainable return with financial support provided. It is upon Kosovo authorities to show their dedication to the implementation of their own decision regarding the return of the refugees, and it is upon our state to insist intensively and persistently on that issue.

That is why I believe that solving of this issue has commenced and that Kosovo authorities have shown positive attitude toward this condition for the exchange of ambassadors.

- And what about recognition of Montenegrin minority and securing their representation in the Government of Kosovo?

Apart from the promise and verbally expressed positive willingness, nothing has been done so far. Montenegrins still do not have normatively recognized status of minority nor secured authentic representation in the Government of Kosovo, beside the fact that they were treated as national community in the SAP Kosovo Constitution of 1974 and that they were second non-Albanian community, after Serbs, in the population census from 1981. I am pleased that, in addition to others, Roma, Ashkali, Egyptians and Goranci national minorities gained their recognition in the Constitution of independent Kosovo. But it is hard to believe that Montenegrins lost the status of minority despite the fact that they asked for such status in the preparation of the Constitution and since it was omitted in the Constitution, they insisted on its correction. Montenegrins autochthonously live in Kosovo for centuries and they should be definitely granted minority status.

- Does it mean that, in the exchange of ambassadors, you will insist for the solution to the issue of recognition of our minority and their representation in the Government of Kosovo?

Of course. Without that, the issue of our minority would further remain open and unsettled. Besides, that was clearly and publicly announced by Montenegrin national community and Montenegrin parties in Kosovo as well. I highly appreciate the position of MFA which expresses expectation of resolving the issue of recognition of Montenegrin national community as a minority in the legal system of Kosovo during the preparation for the exchange of diplomatic staff.

I certainly will not sign acts of exchange of ambassadors until Montenegrin national community get clear normative recognition as a minority and until the authentic representation in the Government of Kosovo is secured.

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