17 August, 2011

REVIJA D (Montenegro)

Interview with Mr. Dusan Babac, Member of the Privy Council

Author: A. Stevovic

They sold everything and bought villas on the Cote d’Azur

The adoption of the Law on the Petrovic Dynasty, and the reaction of Nikola Petrovic, the descendant of Prince Mihailo Petrovic, has attracted great media attention in the past months. Since this topic is almost completely unknown to the general public, to understand it, it is necessary to present some basic historical facts. Prince Nikola has to seek apologies from someone, but certainly not from the Karadjordjevic Family. It would be correct if he were paid the debt owed to his father, because he has the right to it. However, he has no right to movable and immovable property, since the descendants of King Nichola sold all this to the Kingdom of Serbia,, Croatia and Slovenia, one of the successor being Montenegro - reveals in an interview for “Review D”, Mr. Dusan Babac, a member of the Privy Council of HRH Crown Prince Alexander Karadjordjevic.

When it comes to the property issue, according to Mr. Babac, the rights of the Petrovic Dynasty and Karadjordjevic Dynasty cannot be placed in the same basket.

- Constantly the fact that the heirs of King Nikola sold all their movable and immovable property to the State is being bypassed. With these funds they bought villas on the Cote d’Azur and in other locations. Prince Nikola is not the only heir of the whole Petrovic Dynasty property but only of Prince Michael’s share. If the principle applies that male and female descendants have the right to inherit the property, in addition to the Petrovic Dynasty, that could be also be the Vukotic Dynasty, Karadordjevic Dynasty, the Romanovs, Savoy, Battenberg, who all have offspring. This means that, the money that belonged to Princess Xenia (1945-1960), descendants that I have mentioned before would also have a right for heritage, finds Babac.

He continues to explain that the Grand National Assembly of Montenegro on the 16th session in Podgorica November 1918 adopted a resolution where, among other things, it is written: “All movable and immovable assets of the former King Nikola Petrovic Njegos and his dynasty have been confiscated for the benefit of the people”.

According to this solution, the Ministry of Interior submitted all the property to the management bodies of the Ministry of Finance (Department of State property) of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenians who made a detailed inventory of the property. Part of the conclusions of the Podgorica Assembly regarding to the confiscation of assets of the Dynasty Petrovic – Njegos, was not taken and included in the Constitution of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, neither in the laws that were effective. This provided the legal basis and gave the power to the Government of the Kingdom of the serbs, Croats and Slovenes to purchase the property of the Dynasty Petrovic - Njegoš, according to the agreement with the members of the Dynasty. That is why the previous agreement was written and concluded with all interested parties. The agreement prior to the enactment of a law in Parliament included the contract for purchasing of the property, along with the agreement that money from the sale cannot be paid immediately, but periodically, and during the descendants lifetime, as a personal right that in the case of death of an individual it would be extinguished in favour of the State Budget, explains the member of the Privy Council.

And so after a two month long debate, the Parliament of Kingdom of serbia, Croatia and Slovenia, adopted the financial law and budget for 1927/28 on 31 March 1927, with 157 votes for and 126 votes against. Despite protests from Croatian federalists, the amendment 180v was adopted concerning the reimbursement of the former Montenegrin dynasty, which says among other things: “We authorize the Ministry of Finance to pay: the former Crown Prince Danilo and the children of former Duke Mirko, former Duke Petar, and former Duchesses Ksenija and Vjera the total sum of 42 million dinars, partly in cash and partly in food and lifelong endowments. For the year 1927/28, the sum will be paid from the budget surplus, whereas in future years it will be included in the regular annual budget expenses.

By this decision, Parliament approved through article 316 of the Financial Law that heirs of King Nikola are to be reimbursed with 42 million dinars from the budget for their private property, explains Dusan Babac.

-The fulfillment of mutual obligations by previous agreement, the assets of the dynasty Petrovic - Njegos became state property. In the Archive of Yugoslavia there is an act of consent of Prince Petar Petrovic about his personal compensation for the purchase of the part of the property which belonged to him, according to the previous agreement, Babac indicating.

Almost identical statements were signed by Prince Danilo and Countess Natalia, widow of Prince Mirko, on behalf of her three sons. Princess Xenia asked that her annuities to be paid off in one payment, as well as inheritance of her deceased sister, Vera. This demand was fulfilled, and all members of the former Royal House of Petrovic-Njegos received monthly payments. The payment of the endowments was executed until 1945, after which that right was unilaterally terminated. Within the Legacy of Dr. Pera Soc a copy of the document from 28th August 1945 can be found, in which, among other things, it is written: “The Embassy reported that with the decision of Ministry of Finance nr. 111 of 30th July this year payments to Prince Mihailo Petrovic, Princess Xenia and Princess Violet are suspended. Death to Fascism - Freedom to the People. Ambassador, Dr Ljubo Leontic.”

-Based on the decision from 1945, Prince Michael, father of Prince Nichola, was not paid the monthly endowment of 3,000 francs from 1945 until 1986, when he died. It is 41 years in total, or 1,476,000 Swiss francs. Prince Mihailo Petrovic Njegos, extraordinary person in many ways, carried the legacy of the Montenegrin and Serbian dynasty. Princess Natalia, mother of Prince Michael, was a descendant of the dynasty Obrenovic, based on which Prince Nikola also has Serbian blood, said Dusan Babac.

Waiting for the Commission to announce

Babac points out that Crown Prince Alexander II Karadjordjevic, does not want to enter in a discussion with Prince Nicola, about the property of his family in Montenegro, and for that reason he avoids making statements about this issue, until the official Commission which is working on this subject makes a decision. Attorneys are leading a combined procedure, which was started in 2007, because the heritage in Montenegro is not only claimed by Crown Prince Alexander II, but by all members of the Karadjordjevic Dynasty, Babac recalls.