The Platform for a European Serbia: Vucic’s Frustration Must Not Obstruct Serbia-Montenegro Relations 

Aleksandar Vucic (BETAPHOTO/MILAN ILIC)

The Platform for European Serbia, a coalition of pro-European parties the Freedom and Justice Party, Serbia Center (SRCE), the Free Citizens Movement, and the citizens’ movement Solidarity, on Aug. 12 described the Serbian regime’s “orchestrated attacks” on Montenegro’s leadership as unacceptable because they further deepen the divide between the two countries, as well as their peoples who have the closest possible ties.  

“The hysterical reactions of a number of ministers, the Assembly speaker and special advisers, as a form of support to the statement by Aleksandar Vucic, a member of the Serbian Progressive Party (and the Serbian President), which reflect political frustration due to their government’s inability to catch up with Montenegro in the EU accession process, as well as their anger over failed business arrangements of their party businesspeople,” the platform said in a release. It added that Vucic’s “unauthorized privatization of state politics” has led to a situation where partners are sought exclusively among outsiders, instead of developing good relations and following the examples of the leaders in the EU integration process. 

Earlier, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said that Montenegro “wishes to have the worst possible relations with Serbia” and “wants to discipline the Serbs” living there, which Montenegrin Prime Minister Milojko Spajic dismissed, stating that Montenegro does not want conflicts with Serbia, but good neighborly relations. His statement has triggered reactions of a number of Serbian officials.