The Coalition for RECOM welcomes the conclusion of the Government of Montenegro, from today’s 83rd session, which supported the Initiative for founding of RECOM (Regional commission for the establishment of facts about war crimes and other serious violations of human rights committed in the former Yugoslavia from 1 January 1991 until 31 December 2001), as announnced at the last week meeting of the Prime Minister with the delegation of Coalition for RECOM. We also welcome readiness of Prime Minister Dusko Markovic’s to express determination of Montenegro to take part in establishment of RECOM at the London summit within Berlin process, with signing of Declaration on establishment of RECOM, as well as to further vigorously support this process of great importance for reconciliation in the region.
We remind that the official Montenegro had continuously positive attitude towards the Initiative for RECOM, and direct support was firstly provided by then President Filip Vujanovic, which was significant within regional context. Likewise, during the campaign of collecting citizens’ signatures, then Prime Minister Igor Luksic personally gave his signature confirming by that positive attitude of the Government towards this Initiative. Finally, in the Parliament of Montenegro, consultations were organized, in which all the parliamentary clubs expressed the general positive attitude towards the formation of RECOM, and consultations were opened and the Initiative was supported by then President of the Parliament Ranko Krivokapic.
The Initiative for RECOM was recognized within the framework of the Berlin Process, i.e. by the EU’s Berlin Process holders as a unique regional mechanism that can contribute to regional cooperation and strengthening of partnership between decision-makers and civil society in the area of reconciliation. The Coalition for RECOM is advocating for initiating or signing an interstate Declaration on establishment of RECOM, at the forthcoming summit in London, by the prime ministers of the Western Balkan states that are in this very moment ready to start the procedure for establishment of RECOM. The Declaration was prepared by members of the Regional Expert Team of the Coalition for RECOM, composed of the representatives of the presidents of states of former Yugoslavia, in accordance with the Amendments to the Statute of RECOM, as proposed by the delegates for RECOM in consultation with the presidents during 2014.
Hence, the conclusions of the Government of Montenegro can be powerful incentive for other governments in the region, and Montenegro can take even more proactive approach in advocating for boost of activities directed towards establishment of RECOM, especially considering the complexity of neighborly relations in the region and the fact that only Montenegro does not have serious open issues with any of the states of the former Yugoslavia to which the Initiative refers.
Natasa Kandic
Coordinator of the Initiative for RECOM
Daliborka Uljarevic
Executive Director of CCE
Dragoljub Dusko Vukovic
Public Advocate of the Initiative for RECOM in Montenegro