Montenegro is required to establish a credible and sustainable history of investigations, prosecutions, and verdicts in war crimes cases, with comprehensive and constructive regional cooperation on these matters, without any further delay, as announced by the Ministry of Human and Minority Rights.

“The Štrpci station, where 20 passengers boarded train 671 on February 27th, marked the final stop. Three decades after the Štrpci tragedy, which represents one of the most notorious episodes of suffering among civilian victims from Montenegro during the conflicts in the former Yugoslavia, there remains no resolution. Nevertheless, Montenegro has expressed its commitment to ensuring that victims and their families can eventually find closure after all this time. To guarantee a consistent, proactive, and systematic approach to the prosecution of these crimes, the Supreme State Prosecutor’s Office introduced a strategic document last year aimed at enhancing the treatment and acceleration of war crimes cases,” stated the Ministry.

It is emphasized that by improving the efficiency of investigations, ensuring protection and support for victims and witnesses, enhancing mechanisms to uncover the fate of missing individuals, and boosting transparency in handling war crimes cases, Montenegro expects to effectively confront its past, fortify the principles of the rule of law, and deliver justice for all.

“If we aspire to be a truly democratic society, rather than just appearing to be one, we need to understand what that truly involves. This includes, among other crucial aspects, cultivating trust and sustainable peace in the region, a robust rule of law, confronting the past, and illuminating historical crimes, which is essential for societal progress. Should we fail to meet our obligations—providing justice and reparations for victims and resolving outstanding cases of missing persons—we cannot expect to be regarded as credible partners across various fields. Montenegro must ultimately create a credible and sustainable record of investigations, prosecutions, and verdicts concerning war crimes, along with complete and constructive regional collaboration on these issues, without further delay,” the statement concludes.

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