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Montenegro and Serbia expelled their accredited ambassadors to Belgrade and Podgorica on Saturday, in an escalation of tensions that have long existed between the two countries that were part of the former Yugoslavia, Euronews reports.
Montenegro declared Serbian Ambassador Vladimir Bozovic a persona non grata, accusing him of “long and continuous interference in its internal affairs”. The diplomat was given 72 hours to leave the country.
Serbia announced a few hours later a reciprocity measure, declaring Montenegrin ambassador Tarzan Milosevic persona non grata and expelling him.
These gestures between two countries that once had excellent relations take place in the conditions in which a change of power is being prepared in Podgorica, for the first time in many years.
How Serbia and Montenegro separated
Serbia and Montenegro, which formed a federation after the dissolution of the former Yugoslavia, split amicably in 2006, when Montenegro peacefully declared independence in a referendum. Since then, Montenegro has been under the leadership of Milo Djukanovic, as president or prime minister. Djukanovic, like Serbian President Aleksandar Vukic, is a former ally of Slobodan Milosevic, but over the years he has become a fervent pro-Western and led the country to NATO membership. Serbia, on the other hand, remained aloof from the Western military alliance.
During his rule, Djukanovic removed Montenegro from its traditional alliance with Serbia and Russia to join the North Atlantic Alliance.
But now the party of Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic (Democratic Party of Socialists), which ruled the country for nearly 30 years without interruption, has lost the elections for the first time in the summer and his government has only four in power. days.
Podogriţa’s parliament will vote for a new government on Wednesday, bringing together three opposition parties seen as pro-Serbs.
Serbia, accused of interfering in the political life of Montenegro
During his tenure, Djukanovic sought to strengthen Montenegrin identity. However, Serbia continued its policy of exerting influence in Montenegro through the Serbian Orthodox Church, diplomacy and the media.
The current Podgorica authorities have accused Serbia of aiding and abetting the opposition forces in order to bring their allies to power and regain influence over the country.
Serbian ambassador Bozovic is accused of “obvious disrespect” for calling Montenegro’s decision to enter the Serbian kingdom in 1918 an act of “liberation” and “free will” of the Montenegrin people. A century later, in 2018, the Parliament of Montenegro had declared void this decision by which Podgorica had renounced its sovereignty.
Read also: Serbia sanctions Montenegro after small state freed from coronavirus refuses to open borders to Serbs
Publisher: Luana Pavaluca
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