Speech of the Minister of Foreign Affairs Miodrag Vlahović on the occasion of the ceremony for a successful completion of the second academic year at The Diplomatic Academy "GavroVuković"

Published date: 15.04.2005 14:17 | Author: Diplomatska akademija

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Speech of the Minister of Foreign Affairs Miodrag Vlahović On the occasion of the ceremony for a successful completion of the second academic year at The Diplomatic Academy "GavroVuković"

"Ladies and Gentlemen,

Its a great pleasure for me to have an opportunity to address you at this special occasion graduation ceremony for the second generation of students at the Diplomatic Academy "Gavro Vuković".

At this very challenging times for Montenegro, where among other important challenges also lays a need for the reform and unity of its society that possesses necessary know-how and capacities in terms of institutions and human resources-- all in the light of its efforts to accomplish and defend its legitimate interests and establish itself as a democratic, open, and civil society, an institution such as Diplomatic Academy at the Faculty of Law plays a special role.

In spite of the initial doze of skepticism and certain obstacles, which are common when undertaking new projects in Montenegro, I am assured that it can be reasonably said today that the Diplomatic Academy project has proved successful - this early on. It was established thanks to the generous and immense help of professors from the Faculty of Law, for which we thank them and honor them. It is them who created the groundwork for continuing education and specialized postgraduate studies that will allow our young men and women - future diplomats and professionals to gain necessary knowledge and develop the set of skills that will make them competent, accountable, and successful in their line of work.

I would like to emphasize that the Diplomatic Academy project bears two very significant values and affirms two very important complementary principles, which represent the very same principles that we wish a modern Montenegro to be built upon:

One is our determination to build and strengthen our own capacities and institutions. The establishment of the Diplomatic Academy and its activities in the best way affirm this determination of ours to rely on our own institutions during this cultural and civil reform of our society in this case scientific and educational institutions using in the process the experience and knowledge of others.

The second principle is the one of openness and willingness for a full cooperation and dialogue with our neighbors and friends during the mentioned process. In this respect, it is very important to highlight that among the lecturers at the Academy, a number of them are distinguished professors, diplomats, and experts from other places. Their lectures have greatly contributed to the success of the Academy, which already has possibilities and offers for cooperation with similar institutions from other countries a fact that clearly indicates its future prospects.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Montenegro is presently at a very last stage of the process of regaining its statehood and legal international sovereignty. Therefore, we are now in closing stages of a process that has been delayed and hindered, which was in the regional context, logically and inevitably, not spared of controversies, misunderstandings, and skepticism, and which continues to be burdened with many problems, both authentic and imposed ones.

In this context, it is difficult to single out a specific objection or thesis that were used to question and deny the right, capacity, and possibility of Montenegro to regain its statehood through a legal, responsible, democratic, and peaceful manner therefore a legitimate one. The criticism ranged from questioning the viability of Montenegro, especially economic viability, to various interpretations of the so-called domino effect that would inevitably take place in the region if Montenegro regains its statehood even if it does it in the democratic manner.

In this sense, the past three years have been particularly dynamic and eventful. As the time passed by, many of these ideas that questioned the Montenegrin statehood issue have lost on their credibility. Today, after three years of a negative experience with the specific state and legal framework (i.e. special interim agreement, which is still one of the attributes of the Belgrade agreement), and particularly after the signing of amendments to the Constitutional Charter that provided for a postponement of the elections for the Parliament of Serbia and Montenegro, it becomes clear, and it was recently affirmed by certain high European officials, that the essential problematic points are focused on two groups of questions which are considered by many, quite rightfully too, as a new or renewed pressure on Montenegro.

The first question refers to necessity, feasibility and conditions to hold a referendum on Montenegros status. Special new conditions and standards are being brought up i.e. necessity of Law on referendum amendments related to further raising the criteria and terms for referendum procedure. In this context, I believe it is necessary to reiterate clearly and in accordance with the consistent position of Montenegro regarding this issue, a notion which has been continuously emphasized by all Montenegrin officials during recent years: we remain prepared to fully meet the highest democratic standards and requirements in the process of preparation and voting procedure on the referendum, relying not only on the analysis of our legal framework in this area, conducted by the OSCE in 2001, but also on our fundamental determination that it will be a process which is to provide credibility and legitimacy of a decision that, beside defining our state status, should be foundation of the new Montenegro.
The room for change and reform of the process as a whole, and the platform for affirming credibility, political consensus, stability, and long-term solution that would be decided on a referendum - whatever it may be should be found in a better communication and cooperation efforts, particularly with those political parties which oppose the full independence and sovereignty, yet find it important to have a serious and responsible approach to this process, with a notion that all of us in Montenegro after the referendum should remain and live together. Thus, these cooperation efforts should be with those political entities claiming to have respect for the Montenegrin statehood. It is everyones responsibility, ours on behalf of the official Montenegro, as well as of our friends and opponents from the opposition parties, to work together for the common purpose. I suppose it wouldnt be improper to say that, in that sense, we expect a full support of the international community, particularly European Union member states, as these are the principles and values that should be promoted.

The second question, less existent, at least in the public milieu, lately was given special emphasis. It regards the idea of Montenegro having superficial comprehension and, thus, false projection that its sovereignty per se brings quicker membership in the family of European people and states, before and aside from other neighboring states. It is necessary to take away this doubt and to put things in the right context. A desire for regaining its statehood brings back to Montenegro full capacity to participate in the European and Euro-Atlantic integration processes as a political subject and not, as we have reiterated on numerous occasions, as a province, territory or someones exit to the sea. Regaining of statehood to us is the element conditio sina qua non of the entire process.

Montenegro is, also, fully aware that many of criteria at the European path (beside uncontested responsibility of each candidate state i.e. potential candidate in terms of building and approximation of their systems and capacities to the requirements and standards of European and Euro-Atlantic structures) both for Montenegro and the Region it belongs to, are less or more visibly dependent on the processes in the European Union itself and its member states. The outcome of the national referenda on the adoption of the European Constitution in the member states of European Union will be, also, of importance to Montenegro. I believe that we will be able to talk about this with more persuasiveness and assurance in the near future.

Long awaited positive Feasibility study indicates a new impulse for Montenegro as well. We have welcomed such a decision of the European Commission, even though it was apparent that the conditions that have postponed and aggravated decision on the readiness of Serbia and Montenegro had depended on the other member state. It is a misfortune that a lot of time was lost in this procedure and that various opportunities have been missed in it. Montenegro was not the cause of this impediment and it holds exactly positive attitude towards positive evaluation.

Montenegro is determined to make use of all predispositions given by the twin-track approach, especially being aware of the notion from the European Commission document that this principle is not presupposing future of the state union. Montenegro is, also, aware that strengthening of administrative capacity i.e. human resources training in the administration will be one of the special criteria in the Process of Stabilization and Association, as it is stated in the European Commission Communiqué. (Diplomatic Academy itself is a small contribution to resolving this problem).

Therefore, there is not any ambiguity even in this respect. There are superficial understandings, present at our political scene as well, assuming that the beginning of state union negotiations with the European Union on the Agreement of Stabilization and Association will postpone preparations for referendum i.e. it will aggravate process of regaining Montenegrin statehood. Precisely this new, positive atmosphere, and in this context, creating new prospect for Republic of Serbia to accept link to European integration can only be of benefit to Montenegro. We do not want to build our position on hindrances and mistakes of others.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Allow me to say few words about one of the priorities of Montenegrin foreign policy which have been affirmed in a special document at one of the recent Government sessions.

Good neighborhood relations represent the basis of Montenegrin foreign policy.

Process of reconciliation and normalization of relations with former Yugoslavia countries has broader meaning to us and it is far beyond very important cooperation with the Hague Tribunal, whereas Montenegro has fulfilled its obligations. We consider this to be a basis of our overall relations with the world as well as recognition and our qualification for Regional and wider integration.

Montenegro as a multiethnic and multi-religious society is strongly determined to restore and enhance its cooperation on the basis of full equality and mutual understanding. The area in which we live is still heavily hampered with war legacy and strong burden of the most serious crimes. Therefore, our standpoint is that only through unambiguous condemnation of the crimes as well as its supporters and perpetrators we can build joint future in the Western Balkans and consequently qualify to full-fledged membership in the European and Atlantic structures, when the time comes and when the conditions are met.

For these reasons we have intensified our communication and cooperation with the countries in the Region, on bilateral basis, as well as within the framework of multilateral efforts and initiatives where Montenegro is independently participating (such as the Stability Pact for SEE, Adriatic-Ionian Initiative, MARRI, Central-European Initiative etc), since it is fully prepared to take over its share of responsibility in terms of development and progress of the entire region."