The Serbian Ambassador to Montenegro, Nebojša Rodić, has been summoned for discussions at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro following a controversial statement posted on the official account of the Serbian government. The issue stems from a recent post on the “Serbia in English” social media account, managed by the Serbian Office for Public and Cultural Diplomacy, which addressed Montenegro’s language policy.
The post, which included a video featuring a clip from the animated series “The Simpsons”, questioned Montenegro’s decision not to recognize the Serbian language, a language spoken by approximately 43% of its citizens, according to the latest census. The text accompanying the video highlighted that respecting the rights of the majority language is also a value upheld by the European Union, posing the question: “Isn’t it?”
This statement has prompted a strong response from the Montenegrin government, which interprets the remarks as an inappropriate interference in its internal affairs. The timing of the comments is particularly sensitive, as they coincide with Montenegro’s recent announcement regarding the closure of 13 chapters in its negotiations with the EU, a significant milestone in its accession process.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro is expected to seek clarification from Ambassador Rodić regarding the official stance communicated by the Serbian government. Historically, Rodić has refrained from publicly commenting on Montenegro’s internal political dynamics, which may influence the nature of the discussions at the ministry.
As of now, there has been no official response from either the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro or the Serbian Embassy in Podgorica regarding this developing situation. The ongoing dialogue reflects the complexities of language and identity in the region, as well as the broader implications for diplomatic relations between Serbia and Montenegro.
