Menu

Cetinje forum

cetinjski forum

Božović: For Greater-Serbian politics to survive, it seeks to push the region away from the European Union.

0

Cetinje Forum 2025

The fifth panel of the Cetinje Forum – FORCE2025 was titled “The Current Situation in Serbia and Reflections on the Western Balkans”.

Speaking on the fifth panel, the Executive Director of the Regional Academy for Democratic Development from Novi Sad, Balša Božović, said that there is nothing European left in Serbia in the past 13 years.

“Serbia has never been closer to Russia, and in the Report it is mentioned in the context of Georgia. The rapprochement is evident. This is the worst report Serbia has ever received,” Božović stated.

He emphasised that as long as such a regime is in power, it will continue trying to destabilise the region.

“For Greater-Serbian politics to survive, it will push the region away from the European Union (EU). That is why Montenegro’s path to the EU is not important only for Montenegro, but for the entire region. Montenegro will face many obstacles on that path,” Božović underlined.

To prevent this, he argued, Serbia needs democratisation, meaning at least 33 percent of citizens who support the EU.

“It is important for society in Serbia to understand how crucial Montenegro’s accession to the EU is for them as well,” Božović added.

He concluded that Vučić’s foreign policy has suffered a “total collapse,” and that he will try to do anything in order to survive politically.

Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Philosophy and Social Theory of the University of Belgrade, Milivoj Bešlin, noted that “no one can escape from their own history.”

“After Vučić, we will have no guarantees that society has learned all its lessons. We will see what our society will look like and whether it will move towards a genuine democratisation,” Bešlin said.

Professor at the Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Novi Sad, Aleksej Kišjuhas, said that every form of free, democratic movement must be supported.

Professor at the Department of Media Studies of the Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Novi Sad, Dinko Gruhonjić, stated that Serbian society has been poisoned, because there are people for whom it is normal to chant “Aco, you Albanian!”

“The situation is very dangerous. Imagine the kind of mental mush in the minds of people who have been watching this for 40 years, on all Serbian television channels. The regime is in terrible paranoia, in incredible fear,” Gruhonjić said.

The panel was moderated by political scientist Emir Pilav.

CF-1320x733

Cetinje Forum 2025: A world in turmoil, democracy under pressure

0

ADD Among Organizers of Cetinje Forum 2025

Cetinje will host the Cetinje Forum – FORCE2025 on 14 and 15 November, an international conference entitled “Shaping Disorder: Democracy, Security and Leadership in an Age of Global Transformation”, which will bring together prominent intellectuals, politicians, diplomats, journalists and activists from Montenegro, the region and the world.

The Forum is organised by the Faculty of Montenegrin Language and Literature, the Old Royal Capital Cetinje and the international network WestBalkanNet (WBN), with the support of the Faculty of Political Science of the University of Sarajevo, the Regional Academy for Democratic Development from Novi Sad, the Montenegrin PEN Centre and the Cultural Centre of the Old Royal Capital Cetinje.

Launched in 2022, the Cetinje Forum has established itself as a regional platform for dialogue on democracy, human rights, peace and European integration. This year’s edition is dedicated to reflecting on global turmoil and the ways in which states, societies and institutions can preserve liberal-democratic values in a world marked by crises, propaganda and the rise of authoritarian tendencies.

The programme of the Forum includes ten panels and thematic sessions featuring more than forty participants from Montenegro, the region, the European Union, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Among them are: Vesna Pusić, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia (2011–2016); Iveta Radičová, Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic (2010–2012); Peter Galbraith, United States Ambassador to Croatia (1993–1998) and United Nations Assistant Secretary-General in 2009; Gordana Đurović, Deputy Prime Minister of Montenegro (2004–2010); Tinatin Khidasheli, Minister of Defence of Georgia (2015–2016); František Lipka, former Ambassador of Slovakia and Chair of Montenegro’s Republican Referendum Commission in 2006; Roman Jakič, Minister of Defence of Slovenia (2012–2014); Jakub Klepal, Executive Director of the Forum 2000 Foundation in Prague; as well as numerous university professors, journalists and representatives of the civil sector.

The special guest of the Forum will be Edita Hrdá, Envoy of the Government of the Czech Republic for the Western Balkans, who will speak about the enlargement of the European Union.

“The panels will focus on topics such as: the European Union enlargement process and the position of Montenegro, diplomacy in times of crisis, challenges to democracy and human rights, media freedom and the fight against disinformation, the active engagement of youth in shaping new democratic policies, as well as the current situation in Serbia and its reflection on the Western Balkans,” the organisers state.

Particular attention will be devoted to the promotion of the document “Montenegro: Non-paper”, and the Forum will also feature the presentation of the book “Sick from the Past” by historian Adnan Prekić.

“The goal of the Forum is to affirm Montenegro and Cetinje as a space of open dialogue and European reflection on the future of democracy, security and regional cooperation. In a time of growing global uncertainty, the Cetinje Forum aims to offer a space for the exchange of ideas and the building of bridges between academia, politics and civil society,” the organisers note.

The organisers invite media representatives to follow the work of the Forum, whose sessions will take place in the Government House in Cetinje. Registration of participants and journalist accreditation will be open on Friday, 14 November, from 9:00.

Forum Programme:

FIRST DAY – 14 November 2025

PANEL 1 (09:45 – 10:45)

The EU Enlargement Process and Geopolitics: Presentation of the Document “Montenegro: Non-paper”

Speakers:

  • Vesna Pusić, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia 2011–2016

  • Iveta Radičová, Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic 2010–2012; Minister of Defence of the Slovak Republic 2011–2012; Dean of the Pan-European University, Bratislava

  • Peter Galbraith, United States Ambassador to Croatia 1993–1998; United Nations Assistant Secretary-General 2009; Senator of the State of Vermont, Windham District 2011–2015

  • Gordana Đurović, Minister of European Integration and Deputy Prime Minister of Montenegro (2004–2010); Full Professor, Faculty of Economics, University of Montenegro

Moderator: Marko Banović, analyst at the Digital Forensic Center

PANEL 2 (11:00 – 11:45)

Diplomacy in Times of Crisis

Speakers:

  • H.E. Matei-Viorel Ardeleanu, Ambassador of Romania to Montenegro

  • H.E. Veselko Grubišić, Ambassador of the Republic of Croatia to Montenegro

  • H.E. Janina Hřebíčková, Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Montenegro

  • H.E. Oleh Herasymenko, Ambassador of Ukraine to Montenegro

Moderator: Marko Savić, political scientist

11:45 – 12:00 Break

12:00 – 12:30

European Union Enlargement: Reality or Illusion?

Speaker: H.E. Edita Hrdá, Envoy of the Government of the Czech Republic for the Western Balkans
Moderator: Olivera Komar, Professor at the Faculty of Political Science, University of Montenegro

PANEL 3 (12:45 – 13:45)

Challenges to Democracy, Human Rights Policy and Security in Central and Southeast Europe

Speakers:

  • Jakub Klepal, Executive Director, Forum 2000 Foundation, Prague

  • Roman Jakič, Honorary President of the liberal network LIBSEEN; Minister of Defence of Slovenia 2012–2014; Member of the European Parliament 2000–2004

  • Daliborka Uljarević, Executive Director, Centre for Civic Education (CGO)

  • Elira Luli, Lecturer and Researcher in International Relations, “Luarasi” University, Tirana

  • Sead Turčalo, Dean of the Faculty of Political Science, University of Sarajevo

Moderator: František Šístek, Institute of History of the Czech Academy of Sciences

PANEL 4 (14:00 – 15:00)

The Importance of Media Freedom in the Contemporary World

Speakers:

  • Darko Šuković, Editor-in-Chief, Antena M

  • Draško Đuranović, Editor-in-Chief, Television E

  • Jasmina Muminović, Editor-in-Chief, Standard portal

  • Danica Nikolić, Editor-in-Chief, M portal

  • Darko Ivanović, Executive Director, NGO “35mm”

PANEL 5 (17:15 – 18:15)

The Current Situation in Serbia and Its Reflections on the Western Balkans

Speakers:

  • Balša Božović, Executive Director, Regional Academy for Democratic Development, Novi Sad

  • Milivoj Bešlin, Senior Research Fellow, Institute for Philosophy and Social Theory, University of Belgrade

  • Aleksej Kišjuhas, Professor, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Novi Sad

  • Dinko Gruhonjić, Professor, Department of Media Studies, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Novi Sad

Moderator: Emir Pilav, political scientist

18:30 – 19:30

Promotion of Adnan Prekić’s Book “Sick from the Past” (Publisher: Analitika)

SECOND DAY – 15 November 2025

PANEL 1 (09:30 – 10:30)

The Importance of EU Integration in Protecting Democratic Values from Authoritarianism

Speakers:

  • Tinatin Khidasheli, Minister of Defence of Georgia 2015–2016; President of Civic IDEA

  • František Lipka, former Ambassador of Czechoslovakia to the former Yugoslavia; former Ambassador of Slovakia to France, UNESCO, Belgium, Luxembourg and Montenegro; Chair of the Republican Referendum Commission for the 2006 Montenegrin Independence Referendum

  • Sašo Ordanoski, Programme Manager, Forum – Centre for Strategic Research and Documentation, Skopje

  • Branislav Radulović, President of the Association of Lawyers of Montenegro

  • Marko Banović, analyst, Digital Forensic Center (DFC)

Moderator: Lejla Salihagić Batrićević, Programme Coordinator, WBN

PANEL 2 (10:45 – 11:45)

Disinformation, Toxic Narratives and Historical Revisionism

Speakers:

  • Adnan Prekić, Professor, University of Montenegro

  • Marija Mitevska, journalist, Telma TV/investigative magazine KOD

  • Biljana Jovićević, journalist, Antena M

  • Momčilo Radulović, President, European Movement in Montenegro

Moderator: Milan Marković, Vice-Dean for International Cooperation, FCJK

12:00 – 12:30

30 Years After Dayton – Has the War Ended or Been Frozen?

Speaker: Sead Jusić, Commander of the 505th Bužim Knights Brigade of the 5th Corps of the Army of RBiH; former Deputy Minister of Defence of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Moderator: Aleksandar Radoman, Dean of FCJK

12:30 – 13:00 Cocktail break

PANEL 3 (13:00 – 14:00)

The Independent Civil Sector and the Rule of Law as Protection Against Anti-Democratic Policies

Speakers:

  • Danijel Kalezić, Co-Executive Director, ERA – LGBTI Equal Rights Association for the Western Balkans and Turkey

  • Nevenka Vuksanović, Director, CEDEM

  • Draško Jabučanin, analyst, Digital Forensic Center (DFC)

  • Emir Pilav, political scientist; Director, NGO “Husein Paša”

  • Dražen Cerović, Professor, Faculty of Law, University of Montenegro

Moderator: Almedina Dodić

PANEL 4 (14:15 – 15:15)

They Are Coming: Active Youth Engagement in Creating New Democratic, Security, Media and Cultural Policies

Speakers:

  • Almedina Dodić, Project Assistant, Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime; Youth Coordinator, WBN

  • Andi Batusha, Programme Lead, Institute for Security and Resilience – PREVENT, Pristina

  • Ferdinand Fuchs, Political Activist, Stiftung Grundwerte und Völkerverständigung

  • Sara Čabarkapa, Programme Coordinator, Active Citizenship, Centre for Civic Education (CGO)

  • Adem Dedić, journalist, Portal !Odgovor, Sarajevo

Moderator: Boban Batrićević, Professor, FCJK; Executive Director, WBN

15:30 – 16:00

Conclusions and Closing of the Forum