Djukanovic Apologised to Croatia

AIM Zagreb, June 29, 2000

“Should it be determined that Montenegro ought to pay war indemnities to Croatia, we will not hesitate to do it. We are aware that we cannot just enjoy privileges because we are accepting democratic international rules and standards, but that we will also have to pay all the bills which result from it”. This is the statement of Milo Djukanovic, president of Montenegro from a large interview given to one of Zagreb weeklies in which he specified the apology previously pronounced at the meeting with Croatian president Stipe Mesic. Djukanovic also clarified that Montenegro would cooperate with the Hague Tribunal: “If any of the citizens of Montenegro should be on the list of war criminals, we will make sure that he appear in the Hague in order to eliminate the guilt from entire Montenegro”.

Although on the eve of the meeting of Croatian and Montenegrin presidents in Cavtat last Saturday there had been speculations about the apology (it was claimed that Mesic conditioned the meeting with this gesture), Djukanovic's statement had a strong echo. With good reason. Montenegrin leader expressed regret “to all the citizens of the Republic of Croatia, especially the citizens of Konavle and Dubrovnik, for all the pain, all the suffering and all material damage inflicted on them by any representative of Montenegro as member of JNA during the tragic developments in the past years”. He explained participation of Podgorica in the war against Croatia by the fact that his people had been misled and as he said, like many times before, manipulated in the name of Yugoslavdom. Djukanovic accused Belgrade that it had stirred up fear in Montenegro of its surroundings in order to tie it as firmly as possible to itself. “Such inferior Montenegro does not exist any more”, he stressed and concluded that “a hand is offered to Croatia with absolute confidence in deep conviction that we have left these difficult pages of our joint history behind us”.

Djukanovic's statement is the first apology of those who had started the war to those who were attacked. To put it in simple terms, the “aggressor” has apologised to the “victim”. It is true, though that even at the time of the war a part of Montenegro sent the following message to Croatia: “A fairy cries from Lovcen: Forgive us, Dubrovnik!”. But expressions of regret are arriving for the first time from official posts – the leadership of the state. Besides, for the first time a part of Serbian-Montenegrin authorities implicitly admitted that aggression had been committed against Croatia. Such a gesture in some Croatian media was compared to that of Willy Brandt, others claim that Montenegrin president can in no way be compared with the charismatic German leader, mostly because the latter was morally unblemished in the war waged by his people. It is remembered and often mentioned in Croatia that Djukanovic himself had once toured the battlefield of Dubrovnik to encourage Montenegrin conquerors. But perhaps due to that very fact it might have been even more difficult for him to utter the apology.

Montenegrin leader has every reason for expressing regret, which is not just principled. Increasingly repressed and blocked by Belgrade, he must ensure a link to the world via Croatia. Montenegro has no other way out towards the patronizing West but the one via Debeli Brijeg. For quite some time already Djukanovic has departed on his journeys to world centres of power from Dubrovnik airport. The international community has evidently stimulated and allegedly demanded his meeting for normalisation of relations with Mesic, among other, in order to further isolate Milosevic. The apology from Montenegro might have also been hurried by the statement of the Hague head prosecutor Carla del Ponte who has just announced indictments for the attack against Dubrovnik by the end of the year. But the most important reason seems to be that time has simply come for such moves.

For such gestures, certain conditions must be met on both sides. The merit for the apology of Podgorica to Croatia goes to Mesic as much as to Djukanovic. This “sorry” would never have been uttered in the presence of Tudjman, and for good reason. Just as the demands of certain Croatian groups of “black-shirts” that the Serbs apologise to Croatia will never be answered. They demand the apology as proof of capitulation, as an act of humiliation, as an opportunity for their own triumph. Such things can be uttered in the presence of Mesic without danger that they will be abused, without danger that they will be a new cause for a division into victors and the defeated. While accepting the apology, not for a moment did the Croatian president act triumphantly, he did not expose his guest to humiliation. Many believe that in this way he too has confirmed a statesman's maturity. Indeed, Mesic was also ready to speak about the great mistakes of Croatian politics. His visit to Sarajevo immediately after inauguration was also a specific act of apology.

The Croatian public was in fact caught unprepared by Djukanovic's gesture. Dubrovnik, heavily wounded in the war, has always conditioned normalisation of relations between Croatia and Montenegro by apology of Podgorica. Now when this has happened – reactions are divided. Just as the political scene. The ruling coalition welcomed the apology, but prime minister Racan avoided to participate at the meeting with Djukanovic. Negative reactions are mostly coming from the right, primarily from among the former ruling party. Over there, Djukanovic's statement is considered half-hearted, insincere, that it has come too late, they claim that it is an expression of pure pragmatism and they ask what will happen with war reparations. However, not even they chose to apply their customary folklore – there were no threats, protests, veterans' parades. One might say that majority of Croatian public reacted positively, aware of the value of Djukanovic's apology, considering it as an essential precondition for normalisation of relations between the two countries.

Dubrovnik too needs opening of Debeli Brijeg and good neighbourly relations with Montenegro. The southernmost part of Croatia which is rightfully considered to be the touristic pearl of the whole country felt like a blind alley: hardly accessible from Croatia and shut from the Montenegrin side it suffered from and because of isolation. Normalisation of relations with Podgorica will considerably change this situation. Especially if the big project of construction of the Adriatic-Ionian highway is going to be carried out, which was discussed the most by Mesic and Djukanovic in Cavtat. The West considers this project important for political transformation of the region: it is believed that construction of the highway will transform it into a construction site and a zone of cooperation. The strategy of the international community is allegedly founded on the conviction that where communications are constructed – wars are not waged. This logic might nowadays be valid in the Balkans as well. Ten years ago it would have probably failed, after everything that has happened - it stands a chance.

Jelena Lovric

AIM