Šuković: It Is Both Sad and Dangerous When Those in Office Lack Knowledge of the Country They Serve

The President of Montenegro, Jakov Milatović, should understand – if he were fortunate enough to realize it – that he bears the responsibility of upholding the values symbolized by Njegoš’s eagle. The office he holds, the building he works in, and his role are constitutional inheritances of the ideals embodied in Njegoš’s poem "The Eagle and the Pig". If he understood this, he would approach his role with greater dedication. He wouldn’t make careless remarks about speaking Serbian or issue misguided statements about the church”, said Darko Šuković, editor-in-chief of Antena M, during the show “Na kraju dana” on Televizija E.

Commenting on a statement by priest Mijajlo Backović, Šuković dismissed it as the opinion of someone with only an elementary school education who nonetheless feels entitled to comment on complex issues.

“We live in an era where ignorance runs rampant – where self-proclaimed experts, parachuted into public discourse, believe they have the right to say anything. The issue isn’t Backović’s nonsense – it’s that too many in Montenegro believe it. And I emphasize ‘believe’ because the alarming reality is that too many Montenegrins choose faith over knowledge. Instead of reading, verifying, and learning, they opt for blind belief. That is the root of the problem – not the fact that Backović is spouting absurdities”, Šuković stated.

To truly belong to something and understand its significance, a person must possess knowledge of it, Šuković argued. He pointed to what he described as an embarrassing situation involving President Milatović, whom he accused of being unfamiliar with one of Njegoš’s most famous poems, "The Eagle and the Pig".

“It’s not just sad; it’s dangerous when those in high office lack awareness of the country they serve. The President of Montenegro has a constitutional duty to protect the nation’s interests. But how can Milatović truly grasp the weight of his role if he doesn’t understand how Montenegro came to be? If he doesn’t recognize the centuries of struggle that led to the existence of the presidential office, the building, and the chair he now occupies? This didn’t appear overnight – it took centuries. And clearly, he doesn’t know that”, Šuković emphasized.

According to Šuković, "The Eagle and the Pig" is the most straightforward representation of Njegoš’s value system.

“Milatović should realize – if only he could see it – that he has been entrusted with the duty to uphold the values Njegoš embodies through the eagle. The office, the building, the role – these are all part of a legacy and tradition encapsulated in "The Eagle and the Pig". If he truly understood that, he would take his job more seriously – with greater passion, responsibility, and sacrifice. He wouldn’t so casually make remarks about speaking Serbian or issue misguided statements about the church”, Šuković concluded.