Cetinje will host the Cetinje Forum – Force 2026 on November 11 and 12, with the theme: “Beyond Borders – Geopolitics, Human Rights and Leadership in a (Dis)connected World”.
This year’s forum will mark the 20th anniversary of the restoration of Montenegro’s independence. The event will bring together numerous domestic and international experts, diplomats, professors, and journalists, who will, over the course of two days, discuss key challenges facing modern democratic societies.
The forum will take place at the Vladin dom, and is organized by the Faculty of Montenegrin Language and Literature, the Montenegrin PEN Center, and WestBalkanNet, with the support of the Old Royal Capital Cetinje, Faculty of Political Sciences, University of Sarajevo, the Regional Academy for Democratic Development, Novi Sad, and the Cultural Center of the Royal Capital Cetinje.
Media sponsors include RTV Cetinje, Antena M, and Television E.
The Cetinje Forum is an international platform that, since 2022, has brought together distinguished intellectuals, politicians, civil society and peacebuilding actors, journalists, and artists from the Western Balkans, the European Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The Forum is dedicated to examining contemporary global developments and their implications for human rights, democracy, peace, and regional cooperation.
PROGRAMME
10 November
19:00-20:00
Ceremonial Plenary: 20 Years Since the Restoration of Montenegro’s Independence
Introductory Address: Aleksandar Radoman, Dean of the Faculty of Montenegrin Language and Literature (FCJK)
Speakers:
Milo Đukanović, Former President and Prime Minister of Montenegro
Ranko Krivokapić, Former President of the Parliament of Montenegro
Filip Vujanović, Former President of Montenegro
Miroslav Lajčák, EU Special Envoy for the Montenegrin Independence Referendum
Moderator: Jasna Tatar Anđelić, University of Montenegro
DAY 1
11 November
09:00
Registration of Participants
09:30
Opening Ceremony
Speakers:
Nikola Đurašković, Mayor of the Old Royal Capital Cetinje
Boban Batrićević, Executive Coordinator of the Cetinje Forum
Moderator: Ivana Rondović, Faculty of Montenegrin Language and Literature (FCJK)
10:15–11:15
Panel 1 – Europe Amid Geopolitical Turmoil
Tomáš Petříček, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic 2018–2021
Vesna Pusić, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Croatia 2011–2016
Borko Stefanović, Member of the Parliament of the Republic of Serbia
Daliborka Uljarević, Executive Director of the Centre for Civic Education
Moderator: Marko Banović, Analyst at the Digital Forensic Center
11:30–12:30
Panel 2 – European Integration and Post-Conflict Societies
Miroslav Lajčák, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovakia 2009–2010; 2012–2020
Srđa Pavlović, Historian and Retired Professor at the University of Alberta
Jacques Rupnik, Research Professor, Sciences Po, Paris
Satko Mujagić, Founder of Optimisti 2004 Foundation
Moderator: Milan Marković, Faculty of Montenegrin Language and Literature (FCJK)
13:00–14:00
Panel 3 – Small States in a Multipolar World
Jakub Klepal, Executive Director of Forum 2000, Prague
Boris Gandel, Director of the Department for South-Eastern Europe and Turkey, Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovakia
Anđela Mićanović, Co-Founder and Research Fellow, European Strategic Institute Luxembourg – ESILUX
Balša Božović, Executive Director of the Academy for Democratic Development (ADD), Novi Sad
Moderator: Almedina Dodić, Project Assistant at the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC)
14:15–15:15
Panel 4 – Contemporary Security Challenges in International Relations
Ferdinand Fuchs, Political Activist, Stiftung für Grundwerte und Völkerverständigung
Maksym Loharzhevskyi, Vice President of European Youth Parliament Ukraine
Suljo Ćorsulić, PhD Researcher, University of Duisburg-Essen
Andi Batusha, Advisor to the Chief Negotiator, Office of the Prime Minister of Kosovo
Moderator: Lejla Salihagić Batrićević, Programme Coordinator at WestBalkanNet (WBN)
17:00–18:00
Panel 5 – Montenegro’s Neighbours and the European Future of the Western Balkans
Milivoj Bešlin, Senior Research Fellow, Institute for Philosophy and Social Theory, University of Belgrade
Elira Luli, Lecturer and Researcher, Armed Forces Academy of Albania, Tirana
František Šístek, Research Associate, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague
Nemanja Batrićević, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Political Science, University of Montenegro
Moderator: Sanja Orlandić, Faculty of Montenegrin Language and Literature (FCJK)
18:15–19:15
Panel 6 – Rethinking Democracy and Security: Young Researchers’ Perspectives on Europe and the Western Balkans
Joseph Piver, PhD researcher, University of Kansas
Emily Vogel, Independent Consultant, Paris
Sara Čabarkapa, Programme Coordinator at the Centre for Civic Education
Nikola Donev, Political Adviser at the Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia
Moderator: Caroline Finkeldey, Historian
Special Programme
19:30–20:00
“When a Lawyer Becomes a Target” – A Conversation with Lawyer Veselin Radulović on the Montenegrin Authorities’ Repression of Critics
Moderator: Tanja Pavićević, Journalist
20:00–20:30
Book Launch: “Merchants of Dead Souls” („Trgovci mrtvim dušama“) by Tomislav Marković. Publisher: Montenegrin PEN Centre
Moderator: Aleksandar Radoman, Dean of the Faculty of Montenegrin Language and Literature (FCJK)
DAY 2
12 November
09:45–10:45
Panel 7 – Hybrid Threats and Foreign Actors in the Balkans 20 Years After the Restoration of Montenegro’s Independence
Agon Maliqi, Nonresident Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council (Europe Center)
Roman Jakič, Minister of Defence of Slovenia 2011–2013
Branislav Radulović, President of the Association of Lawyers of Montenegro
Marko Banović, Analyst at the Digital Forensic Center
Moderator: František Šístek, Research Associate, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague
11:00–12:00
Cetinje Forum – Economic Special
“Euro Model”: An Investment in Citizens or Unfounded Populism?
Maja Baćović, Professor at the Faculty of Economics, University of Montenegro
Miloš Vuković, Director of Fidelity Consulting
Mirza Mulešković, Executive Director of Inteligencija MNE
Ratko Nikolić, Owner and Founder of BI Consulting
Moderator: Ana Nives Radović, Economics Editor at Antena M
12:30–13:30
Panel 8 – Human Rights and Maintaining Peace in the Age of Trumpism
Biljana Jovićević, Journalist at Antena M
Miloš Strugar, Executive Director of Conflux Center for Intercultural Dialogue and Mediation
Jovan Džoli Ulićević, Executive Director of Association Spectra
Draško Jabučanin, Analyst at the Digital Forensic Center
Moderator: Stefan Todorović, Faculty of Montenegrin Language and Literature (FCJK)
13:45–14:45
Panel 9 – Has Democracy Ever Truly Taken Root in the Western Balkans?
Milena Bešić, Civic Activist
Aleksandra Jerkov, Member of the Executive Committee of the Academy for Democratic Development (ADD), Novi Sad
Emir Pilav, Political Scientist, Member of WestBalkanNet (WBN)
Tomislav Marković, Independent Journalist and Writer
Moderator: Vjera Ljuljđuraj, Journalist
15:00–16:00
Panel 10 – Is There Freedom of the Media in Montenegro?
Darko Šuković, Antena M
Draško Đuranović, TV E
Jelena Nelević Martinović, Pobjeda
Danica Nikolić, M Portal
Jasmina Muminović, Portal Standard
Moderator: Jelena Šušanj, Faculty of Montenegrin Language and Literature (FCJK)
16:00 Closing Ceremony of the Cetinje Forum
Closing Address: Adnan Čirgić, President of the Montenegrin PEN Centre
