Reactions in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) to the victory of Jakov Milatovic in the presidential elections in Montenegro point to deep divisions in BiH society.
Few regional elections have attracted as much attention in BiH (BiH) as the presidential elections in Montenegro held on Sunday, April 2nd. After the first results were published, on the basis of which it was clear that the candidate of the “Evropa sada” party, Jakov Milatovic, convincingly defeated the candidate of the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS), Milo Djukanovic, social media “exploded”, and the BiH Presidencywas among the first to congratulate Milatovic.
The chairperson of the BiH Presidency, Zeljka Cvijanovic, sent the congratulatory message. “I am convinced that your victory will contribute to the strengthening of our friendly relations, and that it will open new perspectives for partnership and cooperation on a bilateral and regional level,” said Zeljka Cvijanovic.
Dodik expects “the strengthening of the position of the Serbian national corps”
BiH Presidency members Zeljko Komsic and Denis Becirovic, who unequivocally supported Djukanovic before the elections, did not announce themselves after the victory of Jakov Milatovic. To recall, before the elections, Becirovic sent a video message of support to the DPS president to the citizens of Montenegro, emphasizing that Djukanovic is a “proven fighter for the Montenegrin state and a friend of BiH“.
Relations between BiH and Montenegro at the presidential level were practically blocked in 2018 when Milorad Dodik, as a member of the BiH Presidency, vetoed the arrival of Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic on an official visit to BiH. At that time, Dodik was dissatisfied with the policy advocated by Djukanovic.
Sead Turcalo: “Milatovic is a product of apostolic democracy”
“The celebration of the victory of Jakov Milatovic from the ‘Evropa sad‘ movement in the elections showed that, first of all, he is considered their favorite by those parts of society and the Montenegrin political scene that are much closer to the idea of a ‘Serbian world’ or formal integration with Serbia than the continuation of construction and consolidation of the state of Montenegro”, said the Dean of the Faculty of Political Sciences in Sarajevo, Sead Turcalo. Reacting to the victory of Jakov Milatovic, he told the agency Fena that Jakov Milatovic was born by the government “formed by the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) in the Ostrog monastery” and that Milatovic is a product of “apostolic democracy”, the SPC and the government of Zdravko Krivokapic.
For Milos Solaja, a professor at the Faculty of Political Sciences in Banja Luka, the victory of Jakov Milatovic in the presidential elections in Montenegro is “another post-socialist transitional phase that will bring more democracy and voter influence on politics.” He told the “Srna” agency that after Milatovic‘s victory, “greater liveliness in the political life of Montenegro and greater expression of various interests” is expected. “Usually, all post-socialist phases of rapid and crucial changes end with the defeat of the authoritarian leader who managed to make all those changes,” Solaja said.
He looks at Europe and sees the Open Balkans
Zlatan Begic from Zeljko Komsic‘s Democratic Front (DF) reacts to Montenegrin Prime Minister Dritan Abazovic‘s statement that with Milo Djukanovic‘s defeat, “the mission is complete”. “At this moment, large-state policies are not realized by territorial division, but by placing the institutions of government in BiH and Montenegro under the sovereignty of Zagreb and Belgrade. All this would not have been possible without Dritan. There are many of them, and they are here among us. Anyway, expect resistance while there is one of us,” writes Begic on Twitter.
Montenegrin relationship with BiH will be subordinated to the interests of Serbia?
Co-Chairman of the American-European Alliance Reuf Bajrovicsays that Aleksandar Vucic “took over Montenegro”. “The wheel of history ground sovereign Montenegro after 17 years of existence, unfortunately. There will be time for a post-mortem, but what is certain is that the fall of Montenegro under Serbia is very bad news for BiH. This must be the last warning for everyone in BiH before it also falls,” writes Bajrovic, connecting Milatovic‘s victory with the current political situation in BiH, that is, its entity, the Federation of BiH. He told DW that “Milatovic will implement politics according to the will of Belgrade”. “Montenegro is no longer a completely sovereign state, and therefore its relationship with BiH will be completely subordinated to the interests of Serbia,” says Bajrovic.
Many media and analysts in the Federation of BiH see Jakov Milatovic‘s victory as a strengthening of the “Greater Serbian” policy. They are worried about possible complications in regional relations, and the public could also hear assessments that after the presidential elections in Montenegro on April 2nd, BiH has lost a “true friend”, DW reports.
E.Dz.
