Petak, 29 Marta, 2024
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Cupic: The resolution on Srebrenica saves the present and relieves the future of Montenegro

"Ljubo Cupic is not just a question of Montenegro, it is a symbol of freedom for the entire anti-fascist world. In 1942, his photograph toured the entire planet. It was published in all anti-fascist newspapers in the world, the American New York Times reported. It first appeared in this area in 1969 in the magazine "Ovdje" ("Here"). When the famous Serbian poet Branko Miljković saw this painting in 1969, he wrote famous verses: 'Will freedom be able to sing, as slaves sang about it'. He wrote this while looking at that photograph and the figure of Ljubo Cupic", states Prof. Dr. Cedomir Cupic, professor of sociology and political anthropology at the University of Belgrade and lecturer at the Faculty of Political Sciences, University of Montenegro.

The vote on the Resolution on the Srebrenica genocide is a big step forward for Montenegro. It somehow saves its present and relieves her future. It is not just the issue of Srebrenica, but it is a message that no criminal policy and criminals will ever be amnestied in Montenegro, and I congratulate the parliament that had the strength to pass such a document with a significant majority, says in an interview with Dnevne novine prof. Dr. Cedomir Cupic, professor of sociology and political anthropology at the University of Belgrade and lecturer at the Faculty of Political Science, University of Montenegro. Commenting on the statements of a part of the Montenegrin ruling coalition, led by the Democratic Front, that the Resolution is directed against the Serbian people and Serbia, the professor points out that it is a matter of great manipulation.

“This resolution does not accuse the Serbian people, nor any Serb, but only the one who committed the crime. So, all those who say that it is a resolution against Serbs are committing a great fraud and a great manipulation”, points out Cupic.

Did you see how the President of Serbia commented on the adoption of the resolution and what message he sent to the Serbian population in Montenegro?

ČUPIĆ: I read how he said “Serbs, raise your head”. That is indecent. That the President of the Republic declares something concerning another state and its parliament. Montenegro did not declare war on Serbia, so it should be declared that way. It is not a state one, and it shows who the people in power in Serbia are.

The President of Montenegro will never do something like that…

ČUPIĆ: Of course not. From the aspect of politics, Djukanovic is absolutely the most talented man with exceptional political language and thinking. I do not go into what someone attributes to him, what are the interests, let others resolve it, but it is a statesman in the true sense of the word who positions Montenegro in a global context.

The desecration of the grave of Ljubo Cupic in Niksic raised the citizens of Montenegro to their feet, while part of the government as well as the president of the Niksic municipality is trying to relativize this case as a move by a drunk man…

ČUPIĆ: The desecration of Ljubo Čupić's grave is a barbaric act. That’s a lot more than the man was drunk. It is about hatred, so all such events should be condemned, their hatred must not float in public space. As for the mayor, he was supposed to resign the morning he found out what had happened.

The public does not know that you were named after Ljubo Cupic…

ČUPIĆ: That's right. His real name is Cedomir, and his nickname is Ljubo. I am from that family, which came from Baošić a long time ago. Our grandfathers went to the United States and Argentina, where Ljubo was born. Ljubo Cupic is not just a question of Montenegro, it is a symbol of freedom for the entire anti-fascist world. In 1942, his photograph toured the entire planet. It was published in all anti-fascist newspapers in the world, the American New York Times reported. It first appeared in this area in 1969 in the magazine “Ovdje” (“Here”). When the famous Serbian poet Branko Miljković saw this painting in 1969, he wrote the famous verses: “Will freedom be able to sing, as slaves sang about it”. He wrote that while looking at that photo and the character of Ljubo Cupic. And someone dares to desecrate that symbol of anti-fascism. That is terrible and that is why I welcome the reaction of the citizens. Such a barbaric act must be condemned.

You are often in here because of your teaching duties. How does Montenegro look to you today?

ČUPIĆ: If you look at the criteria of democratic life, Montenegro would be among the most ideal democratic orders. Why? Because it has a government that has barely managed to form with one more MP and one powerful opposition that will not allow it to do harm…

Here, however, there is a big problem, because the people who are currently in the ruling coalition believe that the opposition, that is, the Democratic Party of Socialists, should be completely destroyed, that it should not exist. Such a story is out of the question. Over 35 percent of voters are behind that DPS, it is a more powerful party. If for some reason someone from that party does not suit you, if you suspect various abuses, then this is also talked about in a decent vocabulary, along with material evidence. You can't just judge by story. Without material evidence there is no guilt. I will remind you of an anecdote written by the writer Pedja Petrović after the First World War. Two peasants are sitting in front of the court, a third one comes along and asks: “What are you people doing?” “We're waiting to testify.” “And to whom?” “Who needs it!” As then, so today. Witnesses will always be found, but evidence is essential.

What else did you notice?

ČUPIĆ: I constantly hear from the representatives of the current majority in the Assembly that we are the winners. Wait a minute, what kind of winner are you with one MP more? You could have been defeated. You are the winners of only one council or the day after the elections, after that you are the government that conducts domestic and foreign policy, which is most responsible for everything that happens. If you constantly say you are a winner, it is a militant vocabulary that provokes the other side, encourages constant hostility and conflict… So the word winner no longer exists, but responsibility.

You are a university professor. How do you view the merging of the four departments of education, science, culture and sports, as the new government in Montenegro did?

ČUPIĆ: They very clumsily connected four areas. Education and science should have been separated as a separate department. As much as that minister is capable, it is unnatural and the Prime Minister, as a professor and as a pedagogue, would have to know that he has a special sensitivity towards education, which is the most sensitive area. Small societies and states have only one resource, they are educated people. Montenegro should take education as its primary strategic goal.

The actions of the new government during the past months will be remembered for revanchism…

ČUPIĆ: That is the worst thing that could have happened. Everyone who behaves revanchistically destroys first others, then themselves, and then they ruin the work of society. Of course, someone should be fired if there is a reason for that according to the law, but not out of revenge against the previous government. Where does this happen in the developed world? Nowhere. Look at US President Biden, did he remove the ambassadors that Trump appointed? It is not, let alone to dismiss the heads of some services appointed by the previous administration. Only the inner circle of people around the president is replaced. Revanchism as it exists in Montenegro, which I had the opportunity to see through the media, is very dangerous, it leaves evil blood. Because, another government will come and then what?

The current coalition government deals mostly with its predecessors. Almost every public address begins with the words that Montenegro is “liberated”…

ČUPIĆ: This coalition was created with one basic goal to fight against one man. This primarily connected civic and ultra-right parties and of course problems arose very quickly. Because, one should exercise power, be responsible for political stability, economy, standard, social issues, and all that has been shaken in Montenegro. The citizens who voted for them will very soon get tired of listening to what the previous ones did and will ask for the results of the current government. Montenegro is the country with the most luxurious territory on the territory of Europe, a paradise for investors, it should be used, and not to force them because of different interests of the coalition government. The guild will be paid by the citizens of Montenegro.

It is often heard that this government was formed by certain foreign embassies, that every decision is made with their assistance…

ČUPIĆ: Serious politicians must not allow their problems to be solved from the outside. When that happens, only then is it a problem. Montenegro does not need that, because it has managed to make several big strides during the past period. It has opened all chapters towards the EU and is on its doorstep. Montenegro also secured itself by joining NATO. It is recognized as a desirable tourist destination, has huge agricultural resources, riverbeds, mountains, plains, sea. What more do you want!?

Instead of moving forward, you are on the brink of an incident. It is the responsibility of all participants on the political and social scene. Everyone must take care not to settle accounts. There is something that should unite all people in Montenegro, and that is that they are all citizens of Montenegro and as such are all Montenegrins, and ethnically and religiously they are Montenegrins and Serbs and Bosniaks, Albanians, Croats, Catholics, Muslims… That is the essence of a civil state.

The media in Serbia do not stop with the brutal campaign against Montenegro. What does that look like to you?

ČUPIĆ: The media from Serbia are constantly under great tension from the authorities. Great hatred, revenge, vengefulness are broadcast Everything that comes from Serbia is a huge manipulation.

I must say that the previous government in Montenegro was not clear to me either, which easily cooperated with some media from Serbia and easily gave them frequency. They did not know what would come into them and what evil was coming to them. See what Happy TV broadcasts today, Pink TV about Montenegro, what dangerous stories they force, what dangerous people they bring, what terrible messages of hatred are sent towards Montenegro, with the help of certain politicians from your country who are given space in those shows. Today, the Serbian government is spreading the story that Montenegrins are criminals. But, that is not Serbia, and that is not what the Serbian people think.

What about the nationalist pretensions of Serbia, nothing is changing there?

ČUPIĆ: The nationalist pretensions of the Serbian power structures and intellectual elites are not from yesterday, it has lasted from the Serbian modern statehood until today. The current government in Serbia was created as a national radicalism, they are radicals, Seselj's students, Vucic is Seselj's student. Nationalism constantly follows the political elites in Serbia. Even some democratic parties were not immune from some people who wanted to take care of all Serbs in all territories. And some people who belong to the knowledge elite have always had a bad attitude towards Montenegro, even when he praised Montenegrins, he praised them as great Serbs.

Montenegro is exposed to enormous pressures and challenges. How should the intellectual elite react?

ČUPIĆ: Elites of knowledge have the greatest responsibility for the political and social life of a country, followed by political elites. You cannot expect a man who has no knowledge to think about state policy, while it should be characteristic of intellectuals to look for the best solutions. Every intellectual, in addition to knowledge, should also have the power of conscience, not to be locked in the field of his expertise. An intellectual must not despise reality, but help it because he is involved, as a critic of that reality and one who proposes a solution.

How do politicians view it?

ČUPIĆ: A prudent politician will always accept criticism, even if the one who criticizes is not quite right. Aristotle long ago left it brilliantly as a message to humanity, wisdom is the most urgent, but there are few sages, and for common life in society, the state is the most important prudence, or to translate it into practical common sense. A prudent man will never propose unrealistic solutions. That's what a demagogue will do. A demagogue is a man with a dangerous language, who speaks seductively, behind which there is no kind of reality.

In our country, institutions like CANU (Montenegro Academy of Science), universities are often criticized for not getting involved, for not reacting…

ČUPIĆ: Institutions should not react, but individuals. It is not the responsibility of CANU not to react, it should not interfere in political life and should not appear as a collective critic, but to propose. But what about academics? They are obliged to mark everything that is wrong and suggest with their knowledge what should be done. If dangerous processes take place in society that can lead to terrible consequences, you must not be silent. Intellectual elites must not allow themselves to feel powerless. How intellectuals position themselves as individuals depends on the quality of each society.

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