More than 70 NGOs and activists: EU Delegation’s response shows that Government silence is not an option
More than 70 non-governmental organizations and civil society activists have said that the response from the Delegation of the European Union to Montenegro to their appeal concerning the glorification of convicted war criminal Ratko Mladić confirms that silence on the part of the Montenegrin authorities is not an option.
The signatories of the appeal, who on September 9 called on the Government of Montenegro to withhold its support from those who glorify war criminals, said they received a response from the EU Delegation today.
According to the signatories, the Delegation stated that the glorification of war criminals has no place either in the European Union or in candidate countries for membership, and that Montenegro must respect the judgments of international courts, protect the dignity of victims and their families, and reject the glorification and relativization of war crimes. The EU made this position public on September 7, emphasizing that the glorification of war criminals, genocide denial and revisionism are not compatible with European values.
The signatories of the appeal said the EU Delegation’s response further highlights what they describe as the insufficiently clear response by the Montenegrin authorities to a condolence telegram sent by Parliament Speaker Andrija Mandić to Ratko Mladić’s son.
They noted that Prime Minister Milojko Spajić has not personally commented on the matter to date, while his Europe Now Movement, they claim, has limited itself to general messages about the need to leave wartime rhetoric behind, turn toward the future and respect the judgments of international courts.
They particularly criticized a statement by the Europe Now Movement MP Jelena Nedović, who said: „We respect the judgments of the court in The Hague, but we have a sense of the victims in the territory of the former Yugoslavia. We must not forget Bratunac and the photographs of the murdered boys“.
The signatories of the appeal said such a comparison was unacceptable, stating that „one crime cannot justify another, and especially not genocide“.
They once again called on Prime Minister Spajić to publicly condemn the glorification of Ratko Mladić and the Srebrenica genocide by public officials, distance himself from the explanation that this was a „custom“, condemn MP Nedović’s statement, and withdraw political support from officials who, they say, glorify war criminals.
- Montenegro cannot simultaneously seek progress on its European path while tolerating the silence of its highest state officials in the face of the glorification of genocide - the signatories of the appeal said.
In its earlier statement, the EU said that reconciliation and good-neighborly relations in the Western Balkans are important for building a common future, while expressing support for victims, survivors and their families.
Non-governmental organizations:
Action for Human Rights (HRA)
Centre for Civic Education (CGO)
Centre for Women's and Peace Education ANIMA
Juventas
Association „Štrpci - Against Forgetting“
Centre for Women's Rights
Association SPEKTRA
PRIMA
Centre for Development of Non-Governmental Organizations
Centre for Investigative Journalism of Montenegro
Dr Martin Schneider-Jacoby Association
LBTQ Women's Association „Stana“
Women's Action
Montenegrin Committee of Lawyers for the Protection of Human Rights
Antifascists of Cetinje
Safe Women's House
Civic Initiative 21 May
Montenegro's First Women's Environmental Movement – Ecopatriotism
Bihor Cultural Centre
Ikre Rožaje
Centre for Roma Initiatives
Centre for Democratic Transition
35mm
Ipso Facto
Centre for Monitoring and Research (CeMI)
Montenegrin PEN Centre
Montenegrin Philological Society
Media Institute of Montenegro
Montenegrin LGBTIQ Association Queer Montenegro
Centre for Democracy and Human Rights
Green Home
Korifej Theatre
Association for the Protection and Promotion of Citizens’ Rights
Bijelo Polje Municipal Multiple Sclerosis Association
Roma Youth Organization „Walk with Us - Phiren Amenca“
Forum of Bosniaks of Montenegro
Bonum - Pljevlja
Natura
Ul-Info
Multimedijal
Progressive Policy Fund
Husein Pasha
Agora Femina
Mogul
Youth Activism Network
Expeditio
Initiative for Regional Cooperation of Montenegro (Igman Initiative)
Montenegrin Society of Independent Writers
Alternative Theatre Active Company (ATAK)
Association of Lawyers of Montenegro
STEGA - Strategy for a European and Civic Montenegro
Montenegrin Women’s Lobby
Active Zone
Civil Society Activists:
Jovana Marović
Jovana Marović
Dina Bajramspahić
Paula Petričević
Milena Bešić
Aleksandar Dragićević
Darko Saveljić
Emir Pilav
Nikoleta Đukanović
Milica Kankaraš Berber
Sabina Talović
Goran Đurović
Almedina Dodić
Danijel Kalezić
Biljana Maslovarić
Vuk Vučeraković
Mato Kankaraš
Veselin Radulović
Mladen Ivanović
Vuk Iković
Milo Perović
Aleksandar Saša Zeković