Andrija Mandić before May 21: It's not disputed that you are going to the reception, what is disputed is what you are recognizing by doing so
The departure that Andrija Mandić announced for the reception on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the restoration of Montenegrin independence is a political sign that will be most difficult for those who believed him for years. Because May 21 is not a holiday of the state to be hated for Serbs in Montenegro, but a symbol of the order that recognized Kosovo after 2006, introduced the country into NATO without a referendum, suppressed the Serbian language, attacked the SPC, and treated Serbian historical identity as a problem. Therefore, Mandić's attendance at this celebration is not reconciliation, but an agreement to forget everything because of which Serbs in Montenegro considered him their political representative for years.
TL;DR
- Andrija Mandić's attendance at the reception for the 20th anniversary of Montenegrin independence is seen as a political sign that will upset his long-time supporters.
- For Serbs in Montenegro, May 21st symbolizes policies they oppose, including recognition of Kosovo, NATO membership without a referendum, suppression of the Serbian language, and attacks on the Serbian Orthodox Church and Serbian historical identity.
- Mandić's attendance is viewed not as reconciliation, but as an acceptance of forgetting the reasons why Serbs in Montenegro considered him their political representative.