Montenegro.com interview: Prof. dr. Milan Vukčević, director of the Center for Expatriates of Montenegro

Prof. dr. Milan Vukčević (fourth from the left) with to the members of the folklore section of the club "Morača" from Kranj na Pentecost Assembly in Rijeka in 2004 GRADUAL DEVELOPMENT AND STRENGTHENING OF CONNECTIONS WITH MONTENEGRO DIASPORA Montenegro.com: Dear Professor Vukčević first of all I want to express my great pleasure that we have a chance to talk. This interview from our side we do not understand it as just a simple conversation. We think that he in a way it symbolizes the moment in which everyone comes together we find as well as the time that is behind us. Especially when we consider activity of your institution and Montenegro.com which of its own founded in 1996, from the moment it opened to the world the doors of Montenegro on the global network dedicates a lot great attention to our emigration. That year when our website was founded, unfortunately, very much few people in Montenegro could even understand the importance of the Internet and the representation of Montenegro, its potential through a global network. But we all had it luck because as it always happens, similar people with similar convictions are found almost everywhere that they are, and that was the case in this case as well. How familiar are you with the work of montenegro.com during the nineties year? First of all, we mean: ours participation in diaspora congresses, support the first gatherings of Montenegrin emigrants in the USA, the creation of the first diaspora web sites, support for the establishment of organizations worldwide, publishing activity, to the process of national awareness, as well as many others processes to which we made a significant contribution? dr. Milan Vukčević: As is known, in the nineties of the last century, unlike others the Republic of ex-Yugoslavia, has practically stopped working Registry of emigrants of Montenegro, which represented the organized way of communicating with Montenegrin emigrants in a way suitable for the time of its operation. After that, full twelve years, cooperation with our emigrants was neglected. Contacts with them took place mostly thanks to them enthusiasm and persistence of individuals. That means it is and this segment of Montenegro's activities was well-known way: extraordinary individuals, but without an established system. This period will also be remembered as a pioneering one ahead of its time, with the activities of a group of young people gathered around website Montenegro.com. That visionary effort manifested on uncompromising manner appropriate to youth, he created profoundly positive energy, which initiated many subsequent processes. Montenegro.com: Today you are at the head of a very significant institutions. You have all the praise from our side and all support in work. We admit that initially the code us there was a dose of skepticism, although at that time unfortunately due to known events we were not active. You are in a short time managed to institutionalize and channel many processes which, due to the long-term non-existence, are adequate support from the state could very easily last forever disappear. It is something that we ourselves are very strong feel good on your skin. Tell us how satisfied you are achieved results, the attitude of expats to yours efforts and certainly the state itself according to what you are achieved so far? dr. Milan Vukčević: After several failed ones attempts to institutionalize the relationship with expatriates, only the Center for Expatriates of Montenegro was founded in the middle of 2002. From from the very beginning, we took measures to restore the broken ties with our emigrants and let's design cooperation with them. In that volume goal, we set the principles to enter into projects that objectively we can finish without the megalomaniacal ideas that are in this I can't realize it at the time. In doing so, we used positive ones experiences of others, such as similar organizations in Croatia and Slovenia, whose activities have stood the test time. We document all our activities in a modern way way and thus we ensure stability and thoroughness of work and for people who will later work at the Center.On the same we have respected the way and we respect the positive results of our predecessors from the Register of Emigrants of Montenegro. That provides depth and continuity in the process from the essential importance for the statehood of Montenegro in the process of organizing its diaspora. We exist slowly on these foundations we are getting stronger. We have already achieved a noticeable and mutual useful cooperation with almost all clubs and associations Montenegrin emigrants and citizens who reside in abroad, both in the realm of exercising their rights and business relations with entities in Montenegro. Our actions and projects to strengthen cooperation with Montenegrin emigrants have relatively good support from the state of Montenegro, although they are insufficient financial resources, which represents limiting factor for greater momentum. Montenegro.com: Tell us more about priorities of the Center for Expats in the coming year, activities, planned projects? dr. Milan Vukčević: According to the Constitutional Charter of SCG, the diaspora is also formally under the jurisdiction of the members of the community. Serbia has its own Ministry for Diaspora, and Montenegro has its own Center for diaspora. So this is one of the segments where it is formal achieved full independence. In accordance with the program commitments and the objective situation in the Center was undertaken more activities that resulted in realized projects, a one number is in the realization phase. For this occasion I will set aside just two that are right in front of us: a) In accordance with the request of a large number of our associations diaspora, due to increased foreign diplomatic interest consular missions and the real needs to be on objective, modern and accessible way for the world public learn about Montenegro and its past Center began the realization of the project for the production of the book "History of the Black Up from the earliest times until 2003". This book has a special importance and significance now that the domestic i world public for the recognition of Montenegro as sovereign and independent of the state. The book will be printed on our i English language and will be distributed to individuals and libraries around the world. The authors have already been confirmed historians Dr. Živko Andrijašević and Dr Sherbo Rastoder. b) Elections will be held in Bar in May Assembly of the Union of Montenegrin Associations of Europe (SCAE) which gathers over 10 Montenegrin associations and associations emigrants from European countries. Preparations have already begun for holding this assembly. Organizer and coordinator of all activities is the Center for Expatriates of Montenegro. Montenegro.com: In your opinion, where? find our diaspora today? How high quality is she organized? What is it that is most necessary to let's all do it together (both on one side and on the other side) in order to relate Montenegro and our emigration, wherever it is, raised to an even higher level? dr. Milan Vukčević: We often say that it is another Montenegro outside of Montenegro. I would say elite Black Mountain. Our expats live and work according to the rules developed countries of the world and no one can doubt theirs knowledge and experience. That's why Montenegro counts on its diaspora: it can only be achieved by joint efforts with expatriates progress. Bearing in mind that Montenegro is a relatively small country, with with a small number of inhabitants, proportionally it does not have a large number of their expatriates, which undoubtedly makes theirs more difficult organizing. It is interesting, however, that Montenegrin emigrants and during the period of existence of the common state of SFRY (when there were common clubs for all former expats SFRY) still had their own national meeting points and gatherings in which they satisfied their national and cultural needs as well as communication with the homeland. That's why everyone is the republic of the former SFRY had its own special centers of emigrants. It was written about in more detail in our feature of the magazine "Diaspora of Montenegro" in the middle last year. This means that Montenegrin gatherings emigrants to national associations are not recent.However, our time is characterized by a growing trend globalization based on technological changes that create favorable conditions to achieve full unity with diaspora. I see the future of cooperation with the diaspora as appropriate time, in relationships of interest, emotions only interwoven and on rational way grounded. Montenegrin diaspora of the sea become an important factor of cooperation between the old and new homeland. Our emigrants can help their mother during this time not only with their material investments and reputation in the environment with which they act, but also with intellectual capital, especially younger people generations of emigrants. The knowledge gained on the world stage, with intellectual capital in Montenegro, which for the most part lives under the roofs of university institutions, represent the foundation of any - especially small - state. It is up to the parent to find forms of organization, using rationally established diplomatic network and established its economy to be a demanding user of new knowledge. Let's remember just how many young experts left Montenegro in the last fifteen years, having built successful ones careers in developed environments, while the homeland is not yet found mechanisms to include them in its development plans. However, there have been positive developments in recent times that are conditional privatization, market and necessity acceptance of world standards. Montenegro.com: Tell us more about the structure of the Center, the way of working, about your journal, website. I would also like to ask you to explain to our visitors in which matters the Center can provide assistance, support to our people who live in other countries? dr. Milan Vukčević: The center for emigrants is working within the MFA of Montenegro. At the meetings of the Management Board of the Center strategic directions of activities are determined executive bodies implement. We will briefly mention only one number of those activities: - The website of the center has been set up and is regularly updated is being upgraded in accordance with the suggestions of expatriates. - We are in constant communication with a large number of ours expatriate clubs as well as individuals. We try to from the authorities bodies and individuals, we get answers to all the questions that they are posted by expats, who are usually from a wider area importance and which we regularly publish in a special section on our site. - Through surveys and constant communication, we update the database and thereby we gain information on the number and interests of ours expatriates, which is necessary for strategic and thoughtful activities. - The CG Diaspora magazine was also launched, which is published on our and English language. The magazine deals with questions from essential for the diaspora and its content adapts to the wishes of the readers. - We also launched the library of the Diaspora of Montenegro, in which significant works from this issue to be preserved from forget. - We visited many emigrant communities we strive to achieve the cultural, national and of the confessional diversity of Montenegro, which like ours the great civilizational achievement is also expressed in the diaspora. This creates a stronger Montenegrin diaspora as a strong one support for Montenegro and its statehood. - Through our emigrants from various parts of the world, we bring very competent delegations from abroad and that economic, university and other, by which our people, on an indirect way, they help their homeland in connecting educated and business people from abroad with Black Goram. - We are working on a diaspora investment project in the economy of Montenegro principles of mutual interest through cooperation with government bodies. Montenegro.com: Today, many countries are making large investments funds for the development and nurturing of relations with the diaspora. There are many examples of extremely great importance and role of the Diaspora in events and processes in the countries of origin. Certainly Israel and Armenia are the best role models for everyone. And in ours there are many positive examples in the environment (Slovenia, Croatia etc. ) where the potential offered by the diaspora was used to the right way.What is the cooperation of the Center with the like institutions in the environment and the world? dr. Milan Vukčević: There are many positive examples cooperation of our emigrants with the homeland in European and non-European countries. For our activities, such as I have already pointed out, the experiences of the countries in environment, especially the new states created from the former of Yugoslavia. These institutions that deal with the problem we have visited and are trying to apply their experiences, which, given their long duration, very significant. Montenegro.com: Following some of our estimates as well as of our associates we are trying to reach as precise as possible the number of all our emigrants generation in the world. In Latin America I think we have quite accurate data about 20 000 to 22 0000 all together of which 70% to 75% falls on Argentina. In North America some estimates say that there are around 50,000 old immigrants without an estimate of the inflow in the last 30 years. In ex-Yugoslavia republics, there are precise lists, etc. With what data Montenegro has at its disposal when it comes to the number of ours emigrants of all generations in the world? dr. Milan Vukčević: When talking about the issue emigration should be kept in mind that it has a long history Montenegrin emigration. The first written traces date from the end of the 15th century century. The situation in the Montenegrin diaspora is closely related to state in the mother. When the statehood of Montenegro was lost, its emigrants merged into the Yugoslav and later the Serbian one diaspora. Only recently, with strengthening state-building ideas, an organized Montenegrin appears diaspora, with Montenegrin clubs and associations. It is in the Center formed database that is constantly updated, but because of inherited mistrust, it is still difficult to make precise information about the number of our emigrants. Also limiting and unequal national feelings in the long run the verticals of our duration. A number of our emigrants through a long period of non-maintenance of ties with his homeland he lost a sense of national belonging. According to the results of the last one According to the census, most emigrants are from municipalities in the north and South of Montenegro: Blue (57.4%); Rojaje (22.2%); Berane (16.9%); Ulcinj (30.5%); At least (13.8). It seems to be ours diaspora, best preserved its identity and the best organized in the countries of Western Europe and North America. For a more complete understanding of the issue of Montenegrin emigration and the activities of our citizens abroad should be included in they see the fact that Montenegro is old, but also not big a country whose greatest potential is its genetics strong people, who are used to fighting and making positions and in under the most difficult conditions. That's why work on unification is human of the potential of Montenegro is of particular importance and represents one from the priorities of the state policy of Montenegro. In that great business, we will have results only if we work in one way together, that is cooperating intensively with ours expatriates. Montenegro.com: We wish you much success in your work. I hope so that we will have the opportunity to do more in the coming period we cooperate more intensively. As you know started we have a number of new services on our website. The number of people from diasporas who turn to us for many things from day to day days is increasing, so that the need for by providing adequate help and support. Thank you for conversation. Gordan Stojović Montenegro.com