SAC: How do Montenegrins respond to such activities as Speaking Tours?
AD: The fact is that the government already started five years ago to implement activities such as Speaking Tour. At the very beginning four years ago, when the first Speaking Tour was organized, there were no interests to participate in it. Especially, there were no interests from opponents’ side because the opponents in that time, four years ago, they really didn’t want to be present and ask and learn. Now, four years later, we can observe many opponents, who are members of the political parties which are contra NATO and some NGOs with a sense contra NATO, who are ready to discuss, to ask and to raise the questions. But as you also noticed the comments are too extensive and there is a large number of comments. From mine point of view, sometimes it is very necessary. And what can I say is that Speaking Tour is good because you can visit almost all municipalities of the country. How many towns have you visited?
SAC: Eight.
AD: There are twenty two municipalities in Montenegro and you visited eight largest talking with lots of different representatives, from different parts of society and community. And I am sure that all of them – if they would like to receive a real message about the real importance of NATO membership – they can have it. If they really don’t want - as you noticed in today’s part of the discussion– I stated, and now I am clearly stating, that all of them who enter the hall, have already the strong attitudes towards NATO. And this information is very good and very important to share in families, in the communities, in the neighbourhoods, just to talk to the other people.
SAC: How do the Montenegrins perceive support or activities of foreign countries, if you like Slovakia for example?
AD: Unfortunately, there is no large number of countries that really support Montenegro. Many of them just talk about the support. But Slovak Embassy, US Embassy, Slovenian Embassy and Hungarian Embassy are the main supporters regarding the NATO issues in the Montenegro. Every experience which comes from abroad is more than necessary. Especially, when we are talking about Slovak experience; and Croatian experience as well. This is because Croatia is so close to Montenegrin mentality, geography, history etc. Yes, there are some specifics that make Montenegro very different from other countries. But Montenegrins from the very beginning, with some reserves, listen to Slovakia’s experience. In the last two years, from the information – gathering, watching media and so on, they can notice that NATO membership has some real benefits for such countries as Slovakia. Especially, we can talk about your ambassador in Montenegro H. E. Frantisek Lipka. He is very respected, however, one has to keep in mind that there is still one quarter of Montenegro citizens that are not satisfied with his role in 2006. One needs to keep in mind that these people who feel themselves as Serbs and they are still hoping for common country with Serbia, they are still living in dreams.
SAC: How do you see the way the Montenegro joins the EU and NATO. I don’t want the date, of course.
AD: The main, the most important, the bigger issue or the challenge is to fight, clearly fight, against corruption and crime in Montenegro. Besides that, it is one of the seven criteria we have already received from the EU’s side. I am not sure that at the moment Montenegro has sufficient personal capacities to start the negotiations. I am not sure that Montenegro government, Montenegro society really knows what the EU as well as the NATO membership really mean. I am not sure that ordinary citizens and representatives of public institutions, NGOs, media, every part of society are fully aware of our responsibility to the NATO and EU accession. At the moment, the EU accession means for them better jobs, better salaries, high standards and that we will have lots of money. And then on the other hand, we have NATO membership - NATO is still symbol of a military organisation with the potential to be determining rules of all wars. But the nature of the EU and NATO accession is, as your question was, is how to fulfil, how to reach the rule of law in Montenegro. It will be very specific and complicated. How to start, how to turn from words to the action in the fight against terrorism etc. And how to make all parts of the society interested in the integration.
SAC: Thank you very much for the interview.
