Montenegro Under NATO Air-Strikes

The Price of the Pact with the Devil

AIM Podgorica, 28 March, 1999

In dramatic days most difficult for Montenegro in this century, all the parties in the republican parliament have reached an agreement and with one abstained vote passed a resolution. The assembly resolution appeals for peace and harmony. With it all the parliamentary parties undertake the obligation that they would contribute to preservation of peace of the citizens. The resolution fully authorises the government of Montenegro, "in conditions of the state of war and emergency circumstances", to ensure peace and security of the citizens, as well as operation of public institutions and enterprises. Despite the state of war, civilian authorities will continue to operate.

Montenegrin parliamentary parties, deeply divided by their different attitudes towards the federal state and Slobodan Milosevic, needed three days of incessant consultations to reach a joint text of the resolution and a compromise. Now this paper is interpreted by every one of them in its own way. The Socialist National Party headed by federal prime minister Momir Bulatovic, explains the resolution as acceptance of the state of war proclaimed by the federal government after the first NATO attacks. Representatives of this party call the attacks of the Alliance an aggression. They call for defence of the country "by all means".

Interpretations of the ruling coalition, however, are quite the opposite. The resolution passed by the assembly is explained as continuation of state policy of Montenegro. Although the state of war is practically recognised, decisions of the federal government to break off diplomatic relations with western countries - the USA, Great Britain, France and Germany are not accepted. Power in Montenegro will be executed by its own state agencies. Isolationist policy of Slobodan Milosevic, the main producer of all crises and wars in the Balkan, is blamed for the situation in which FRY is now. Representatives of the ruling coalition called on the federal leadership to accept the political agreement with the Albanians. An appeal was also launched to NATO forces to stop bombardment of targets in Montenegro and FRY.

These interpretations of the resolution passed in the parliament perhaps speak best of the division of Montenegro. This division in the basis of which is the attitude towards Montenegrin state issue, marked this whole century in which Montenegrins have fought among themselves.

Nowadays, exposed on the one hand to NATO air-strikes, and on the other to potential danger which threatens Montenegro from Belgrade, they are in a state of unpleasant expectation. It is quite uncertain what the days to come may bring. It seems that all the possibilities are in the game - internal war between divided Montenegrins, but also temporary peace among them; and separation from Serbia, but also uniting with it because of the joint tragedy.

The Montenegrin ruling coalition and its leader - president Milo Djukanovic, are in an exceptionally difficult situation. Recognised by the West as a reformist and a great opponent to Slobodan Milosevic, Djukanovic and his country are nowadays suffering from NATO air-strikes. This is equal to an absurdity and anticipates a tragedy. For three days already, in the air above Montenegro, Djukanovic has air-planes of his opponents who are ravingly striking at Montenegrin territory and on the ground he has strong military troops whose sole commander is Slobodan Milosevic. They might turn against Montenegrin reformist authorities at any moment.

"Unfortunately, what we have been warning against for months has happened tonight - NATO air-force strikes against military targets in FRY have begun. Tonight bombs have also fallen on the territory of Montenegro. Military targets were hit by these air-strikes, but unfortunately so were the people. These are tragic consequences of a frantic policy of confrontation with the whole world. This policy has led our country to this dangerous adventure in which peace and life of the citizens are at stake", with these words, a few hours after the first NATO strikes, Montenegrin president Milo Djukanovic addressed the citizens. He also addressed an appeal to the forces of the Alliance to stop with bombardments.

After evident confusion immediately after NATO attacks, Montenegrin authorities are trying to establish control of the main flows in the Republic. The Republican government and the Assembly are in permenent session. Prime minister Vujanovic's cabinet has adopted the first "war decrees" in the middle of the week. Working obligation has been introduced in state agencies, public institutions and almost all enterprises. The government has also passed a decree on special distribution of goods from the state reserves. State media, but also the privately-owned ones, carry main information on bombardments from foreign TV stations and agencies, mostly SKYNEWS, CNN and Reuters. Connections between state television of Serbia and Montenegro have been interrupted due to damaged transmitters.

In order to additionally disassociate itself from Belgrade, Montenegrin government guarantees safety to all the foreign journalists in the Republic. Some of them who had been banished from Belgrade have arrived in Podgorica. The Secretariat for Information provided satellite telephone links with foreign countries for them. Montenegrin government has refused to recognise the decision of the federal government on interruption of diplomatic relations with America, France, England and Germany.

At daytime in Podgorica, at first sight everything seems the same as in the time before the bombardments. Cafes, schools, factories - are working. There are no queques in shops, although occasionally there are shortages of some of the victuals. During the day almost nobody reacts to sirens for the alert against air-strikes. But as night draws nearer, there are less and less people in the streets, and most of the restaurants and cafes close down. "Peacefully and in family circles", Montenegrins await NATO strikes and watch live TV coverage of Serb-Montenegrin drama. People are panic-stricken only in the parts of the cities in the vicinity of military installations - around Golubovci airport near Podgorica which has already been hit by several strikes, in Danilovgrad where military barracks are also the target of attacks, in sea-side places where the Yugoslav Navy is located, as well as military radar installations. Until the moment when this text is being written, NATO strikes have taken one life. A soldier from the Danilovgrad barracks has been killed.

It seems that majority of political parties are trying to contribute to reduction of tensions. In numerous municipalities, representatives of the authorities and the opposition have made joint statements appealing that all keep control of themselves.

Nevertheless, underneath this apparent pact of quite opposed political options in Montenegro, many questions remain unanswered - primarily whose decisions are nowadays valid in Montenegro, those of the unrecognised federal government and military leadership or those reached by Montenegrin state agencies. This question especially refers to the stand concerning mobilisation. So far many Montenegrin citizens have evaded call-up. But, what will happen if tomorrow they will be taken by force to the front by generals of the Army of Yugoslavia? Will the Montenegrin state leadership - which has disassociated itself from the war and from Milosevic and from the conflict with the world - be able to protect its citizens?

Nowdays the fact is proving to be fatal that the political split with Milosevic in Montenegro has not been accompanied by the split with his military force, or at least its pacification in Montenegro. It is clear that this force wounded by NATO may turn against Montenegrin political leadership and the part of the people who do not suport Milosevic.

But, Montenegro exposed to fear and bombs is nowadays just paying the price of its agreement with the devil signed a long time ago. Exactly ten years ago it has signed a pact with Milosevic and set out to dissolve SFRY. In order to denounce the pact, only Montenegrin consent is not sufficient any more.

Milka TADIC

(AIM)