Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić accused Montenegro of pursuing long-term anti-Serbian policies and applying double standards in relations with Belgrade, in an open letter published amid renewed political tensions between the two countries.
In an opinion piece published by the Montenegrin portal Borba, Vučić said Serbia would continue to respect Montenegro’s independence and sovereignty, but could not be expected to support policies that, in his view, are directed against Serbia and the Serbian people.
“Forgive us for loving you more than you loved us,” Vučić wrote, in one of the most widely quoted lines from the text.
The Serbian president reacted after criticism in parts of the Montenegrin media over his decision not to attend celebrations marking Montenegro’s Independence Day.
Vučić said Serbia had for years faced accusations of interfering in Montenegro’s internal affairs, despite, as he argued, accepting all of Podgorica’s major strategic decisions — from the breakup of the state union to Montenegro’s membership in NATO.
In the article, he also criticized Montenegro for recognizing Kosovo’s independence in 2008, arguing that Podgorica had violated Serbia’s territorial integrity.
“Serbia has never questioned Montenegro’s sovereignty, while Montenegro recognized Kosovo,” Vučić wrote.
He further accused parts of Montenegro’s political scene of supporting what he described as a “color revolution” in Serbia, pointing to the presence of Montenegrin politicians at protests against the Serbian government.
At the same time, Vučić stressed that Serbia has no territorial claims against Montenegro and would continue supporting its European path.
“We will celebrate every one of your successes, but do not ask us to celebrate policies directed against Serbia and the Serbian people,” he wrote.
In the final part of the letter, the Serbian president called on Montenegro to show greater respect for the Serbian language and the Serbian community in the country, which he said accounts for roughly one-third of the population.
Relations between Belgrade and Podgorica have remained strained in recent years over differing positions on Kosovo, NATO, relations with Russia and the status of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro.