Albanians Anxious to Go to Bed with the DPS

Representatives from Forca, the Bosnian and Croatian Initiative Party tonight signed a common platform on which defined the conditions for talks on forming the coalition's parliamentary majority in Montenegro.

The meeting between the representatives of these entities was private, without the presence of the media.
The platform was signed by Nazif Cungu, Marija Vucinovic and Rafet Husovic.

Details on the platform were not made public by the signatories.

According to media reports, the platform is based on solving the problems that plague minorities in Montenegro, the improvement and enhancement of their status, economic situation, social and other spheres.

"Strength for the Union" is to be expected that one of the basic requirements should be the Municipality of Malesia, the use of national symbols, marine goods, and so on.

Although the agreement has not been made public, it evidently seems that the Devil himself might be in the details.  Without any concessions to the Albanian parties, and to their constituents respectively, Force is hastily obliging to a dangerous precedent.  First, any agreement with the majority should be on conditions that Malesia is returned the status of full Municipality, with no less guarantees than those already in existence.  Second, by joining the Bosnian and Croatian parties and forming a coalition of minorities, the Albanians are accepting their identity as a minority at the same level as other ethnic groups.  Why is this problematic?     Albanians are national minorities inhabiting a region that is historically their homeland.  This is not true for other ethnies.  As a result, forming a coalition with these other groups and arguing that you deserve the same rights, protections and guarantees will render a result that will forever diminish your rightful status in your very own homeland.  Albanians are now playing this dangerous game in Podgorica, and it might adversely effect them for many generations to come.

Who Will Be Next?

Nimanbegu: "We do not want to serve as a decoration in government"

The practice of the ruling coalition to cooperate with one Albanian party is not a good position for Albanians in Montenegro, said Genci Nimanbegu of FORCA today.

Nimanbegu evaded direct responses to anyone inquiring if FORCA will cooperate in a coalition with other governments, and stated that the first step will be to arrange Albanian deputies in a common platform.

He said that FORCA Unity has clear political demands, conditions that must be met for the creation of any future alliance with the authorities in Montenegro.

"What we seek is a partnership because we do not want to serve as decoration in the government."

“For FORCA Unity, the priority is to decentralize power and strengthen the rule of law and the implementation of the Constitution, claims Nimanbegu.

"This is especially true in the full exercise of the Municipality of Malesia-Tuzi, and correcting the injustice imposed on the boundaries of the coastal zone in Ulcinj, and faster remedies regarding  the return of property and property rights," he said.  He added that FORCA continues to strive in strengthening the national identity of Albanians, their culture and tradition.

Nimanbegu argues that decentralization is required in the field of education, health, public administration, but also in the field of finance and taxation.

"Uniform economic development that would affect the reduction of regional disparities, increasing employment and stopping emigration, especially in the areas of Malësia, Gusi and Kraja, "he said, adding that it is in the spirit of European and Euro-Atlantic integration.

"We believe that integration into EU and NATO requires advancement in the fields of minority rights as well as to attract investment," he said.

Nimanbegu denied talks about the creation of an Albanian Party of a broader coalition; FORCA is ultimately looking for a place in minority’s ministry in the future government.

"We believe that it is necessary to show that Albanians have the potential to cover more responsible positions in the Ministry of Government and assistant minority sectors," he claimed.

He recalled that the Albanian deputies club had a meeting with Prime Minister Igor Luksic, where most of their political demands were perceived as "realistic and achievable".

He asserted that in politics, mutual trust is needed in order to have clear results, with deadlines and common goals.  “With the opposition, we can have common goals, but we also have significant differences.”  

Nimanbegu stated that the long-term goal of FORCA is to create greater unity among the Albanian parties.

The demands of Albanians in Montenegro, in his opinion, are easy to realize "if you talk the same, and speak  with one voice."

Sinishtaj: Neither the government nor the opposition deserves the support of Albanians

Montenegro needs a national unity government, said Vasel Sinishtaj of FORCA; asserting that neither the government nor the opposition so far for now deserves the support of the Albanians.

Sinishtaj exclaims that they (leading Montenegrin parties) made a mistake, and said, “whoever is ready to rectify their mistakes, I will certainly help them.”  Until then, neither side deserves my support of minorities, "he said.

Asked whether there was a formal invitation from the government to form the Coalition for European Montenegro (DPS/Djukanovic) or the opposition party, Sinishtaj maintained that no call has been made.

Commenting on the idea of ​​a government of national unity, he said that he will consider everything.

"Montenegro is, regardless of religion, ethnicity, political beliefs, only living for the moment, and maybe in a year-and-a-half, or two, it will be in a position to stabilize the government of national salvation in Montenegro; to restore public confidence in state institutions, the legal system and the further work that follows, then we can move on to new elections.  This would be a victory for democratic Montenegro ", said Sinishtaj.

Until then, the situation here remains the same. "I would love to have a government of national unity, but we will not succeed in this current structure, we need something different and I fear this political transfer ".

Sinishtaj said he was grateful to the Albanian voters who were "strong in spite of all the political pressures and remained faithful to their coalition."

"I'm glad Montenegro is moving towards something called a change in the political life and I believe this is the beginning when the next elections will be quite different.  He apologized to the international community to monitor the elections and still think they are fair and correct, in spite of negative effects, "he said.

What Sinishtaj failed to acknowledge is the lackluster performance of all the Albanian parties in general, and how they failed to unite in efforts to gain political standing and push their agenda forward.  Sinishtaj’s comments resemble those of a politician who has secured his own standing in politics and refrains from offering any anecdotes to the issues plaguing Albanians in Montenegro, especially the ever-growing divisions between his own ethnic supporters and party loyalists.

Albanians are the Real Losers in Montenegro Elections

Milo Djukanovic, the leader of the European Montenegro coalition declared victory in front of a cheering crowd of supporters gathered at the headquarters of Democratic Party of Socialists.

The European Montenegro coalition has won 45.5 per cent of the votes and 39 seats of the 81 seats in parliament, the Centre for Monitoring, CEMI, said, based on more than 90 per cent of counted ballots.

The opposition Democratic Front won 23.8 per cent of votes and 20 mandates. It was followed by the Socialist People's Party, with 10.6 per cent of votes and nine parliamentary seats. Positive Montenegro can expect seven seats.

Of the smaller parties, the Bosniak Party won three seats while the Croat Citizens' Intiative, and two Albanian parties - FORCA and Albanian Coalition - each won one.

The European Montenegro coalition is made up of the ruling Democratic Party of Socialists, DPS, and the Social Democratic Party, SDP, which together formed the last five governments, along with a new ally, the Liberal Party.

After winning 39 seats, they may have to reach out to one more ethnic minority party to obtain a majority in the 81-seat parliament.

Suljo Mustafic, of the Bosniak party, which won three seats, said it would be more realistic for his party to form a coalition with the DPS, but he did not exclude talks with other parties. "Our negotiation potential is bigger now," he said.

However, it included some important changes. Ethnic Albanians, who make up 5 per cent of the population, lost their five guaranteed seats.

Instead, all ethnic minorities that comprise up to 15 per cent of the population were given preferential treatment. Those are, primarily, the Albanian, Bosniak [Muslim] and Croat communities.

Nonetheless, the Albanian parties seemed to be the biggest losers during this round of elections.  Among the newly formed groups of coalition, the united FORCA (Genc Nimanbegu and Vasel Sinishtaj) won 1.4%, while the Albanian Coalition (Fatmir Gjekë, George Camaj and Mehmet Bardhi) won 1.1%.   Both parties were awarded one mandate each, thus sending two Albanian deputies to Parliament.  Under Montenegro’s parliamentary arrangements for minority representation, Albanians had five (5) seats reserved but could not capitalize.

The most dismal showing involved the Albanian Youth Alliance (Aleanca Rinore e Shqiptarëve) where its organizer and college student Anton Lulgjuraj failed pass the threshold by only gathering 0.1% of the vote, by far one the worst showings of any political group/party in all Montenegro on Sunday.

With Djukanovic primed to make a return to the DPS, it is believed he will announce his homecoming as Prime Minister in the coming weeks.  Media outlets have hinted that he will remain as head of state and the DP until Montenegro becomes a full member of the EU.  Djukanovic has been Montenegro’s strongman since 1990 when he and Serbian war criminal Slobodan Milosevic ruled the SFRY.

With only two deputies in the 81 seat assembly, Albanians have lost all influence in any decision-making with the majority coalition.  It seems apparent that the European Montenegro coalition will form its government with the Bosniak party and, if needed, the Croat Citizens’ Initiative.    

With the absence of UDSH, Djukanovic’s primary Albanian support over the past two decades, the ruling party will most likely bypass any coalition attempt with the other Albanian members. 

The question surrounding Malësia’s municipality also seems to be settled with Djukanovic’s recent pledge to enact the territorial arrangement sometime in 2013.  Regardless of the date of its reinstatement, the Commune will be staged as a pilot project that was founded by the DPS, then closely monitored over the years with the distribution of a modest budget, where local Albanians had the opportunity to elect their own (local) officials that represented their best/real interests (something they squandered miserably) and that a Commune will be finally awarded to the people of Malësia BY PODGORICA and THROUGH PODGORICA, and not by the labours of the Albanians in Montenegro or the Diaspora.  This is the message that was resonated through (1) Djukanovic’s recent pre-election speech in Tuz, (2) the reorganization of Albanian political parties/coalitions, (3) the ineffective Albanian Diaspora in the United States, and ultimately (3) the outcome of Sunday’s election.  Suffice to say, the DPS will take full credit when they award Albanians their “only wish” over the past two decades: A meager Municipality ruled by DPS loyalists!  Irrespective to conventional wisdom, once this ensues, the DPS will be regarded as heroes for the Albanians, and undoubtedly seal their place as the party of choice for years to come in Malësia.

God Help Us.