Montenegro's neighborly choice: Good neighbor or 'komšija'?

Montenegro's decision to include Novica Đurić on the jury for the prestigious Thirteenth of July State Award has ignited controversy and further strained relations with neighboring Croatia. Đurić, a poet, writer, and journalist, is known for his role in spreading war propaganda against Dubrovnik in the early 1990s.

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Step forward, two steps back – this is how the relations between Croatia and Montenegro, burdened by a series of open questions in recent years, could be defined in a few brief words.

A front page from October 1991, when Đurić served as editor-in-chief of the publication "Pokret," reportedly featured images of destruction in Dubrovnik alongside Yugoslav soldiers and headlines such as "Montenegrins on the battlefield – worthy descendants of glorious ancestors." This past association has cast a shadow over his current appointment.

Further complicating matters, Đurić was recently honored in Belgrade with a gold medal for his exceptional contributions to preserving Serbian language and culture. The award was presented by Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, highlighting Đurić's continued ties within Serbian cultural and political circles.

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Montenegrins on the battlefield – worthy descendants of glorious ancestors.

The selection of Đurić for the Montenegrin state award jury is seen by some as a compromise of the nation's highest state recognition and a deepening of the existing divide between Montenegro and Croatia, countries that have faced numerous unresolved issues in their recent relationship.

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for exceptional contributions to preserving Serbian language and culture