Montenegro showed its commitment to the ideal of freedom, equality, tolerance, maintaining the memory of the Holocaust, but also its responsibility towards future generations by signing the Agreement on the re-establishment of the joint position of the countries of the former Yugoslavia in the museum of the former Nazi camp Auschwitz-Birkenau.
This is what the Minister of Culture and Media told Vijesti Tamara Vujović, who signed the Agreement, together with other Ministers of Culture (Serbia, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and North Macedonia), on the eve of January 27, when the Holocaust Remembrance Day is celebrated.
"Working on the history of the Holocaust in Yugoslavia in this way provides an opportunity to analyze our history, as well as the maturation of Montenegrin society. We also hope that the opening of the exhibition will attract a greater number of visitors from the area of the former Yugoslavia, and therefore from Montenegro, which improves the raising of awareness, especially among young people, about the history of violence and its consequences", said Vujović.
The joint exhibition will be presented in the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum, Block 17. Vujović reminded that the Museum of the Revolution of the Peoples and Nationalities of Yugoslavia had set up an exhibition in Block 1963 of the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum in 17, but the exhibition was closed in 2008.
Recalling the course of events, Vujović pointed out that at the first consultative meeting of the former Yugoslav republics in 2011, all those present expressed their willingness to participate in the Exhibition Project at the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum. The further course of negotiations was conducted under the auspices of UNESCO, and an International Steering Committee was formed, consisting of representatives of the relevant ministries and qualified experts from each of the six participating countries.
"After many years of work, the countries of the former Yugoslavia agreed on the text of the Agreement on financing the re-establishment of a joint permanent exhibition in Block 17 of the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum (previously used by the SFRY). Taking into account the importance of the idea of the Project and the given Agreement, and in memory of the Yugoslav victims of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp, Montenegro, by concluding the Agreement with the other countries of the former Yugoslavia, showed its commitment to nurturing the culture of memory, as well as shaping a value system based on respect for diversity, tolerance and solidarity", Vujović said.
The minister, taking into account the importance of the idea of the Project and the Agreement, in memory of the Yugoslav victims of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp, said that by concluding the Agreement with the other countries of the former Yugoslavia, Montenegro showed its commitment to nurturing the culture of memory, as well as shaping a value system based on respect for diversity, tolerance and solidarity.
The setting will be created by the architect Daniel Libeskind, and the Ministry of Culture and Media of Montenegro, points out Vujović, continuously contributes to this through its activities so far, and he explains specifically in what way for Vijesti.
"Montenegro contributed with research on potential victims of Montenegrin origin who ended up in Auschwitz. More than in numbers, Montenegro contributed by joining the initiative of countries that had incomparably more victims, as an independent country, thereby giving importance to the unity and unified voice of all countries from the EX-YU area, to cultivate memories of unimaginable crimes. Also, we contribute to the need to mark and pay respect to the place of suffering, with the clear idea that peace is a magnificent achievement and that every war is senseless and evil", stressed Vujović.
The Minister also said that Montenegro will continue to make a full contribution to the finalization of the concept of the setting in the coming period, bearing in mind the submitted material which is the basis for the creation of a segment related to our country.
"The importance of the agreement in question is indisputable, from the aspect of the topic - the Holocaust, the museum institution where the exhibition is realized - the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum, which is visited annually by about 1.400.000 visitors, as well as the degree of involvement of the professional and scientific public of the participating countries. When it comes to the participation of Montenegro, in addition to the Ministry of Culture and Media, the National Museum of Montenegro - History Museum is also included in the project", says Vujović.
When it comes to deadlines and financial obligations, Montenegro, like the other signatory states of the Agreement, will reimburse the costs of renovation and conservation of Block 17, in the amount of one million euros financed by Austria, through donations given to the Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundation. The payment will be made according to the appropriate model, the minister explains, based on which Montenegro is obliged to cover the amount of 22.300 euros.
"The payment will be made within two years from the last ratification of the Agreement, in accordance with the separate agreements that each signatory state will conclude with the Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundation in the Republic of Poland. The costs of further maintenance of the exhibition will be covered in accordance with the model of sharing the costs of renovation and conservation", stated Vujović.
Ratification of the Agreement on financing the re-establishment of a joint permanent exhibition in Block 17 of the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum will follow shortly, Vujović revealed. Then, with the installation of the exhibition, it is time to pay the funds for the annual maintenance of the exhibition, which is done on the basis of bilateral agreements that the state will conclude with the State Museum "Auschwitz-Birkenau".
"The costs will be paid once a year, according to the received invoice, starting from the first year of the opening of the permanent exhibition, in accordance with the cost estimate by the State Museum. In relation to this Agreement, Montenegro will determine a contribution of around 23.000 euros for the renovation of the pavilion. "Future obligations for participation in the maintenance of the pavilion are at the level of two percent of the total costs," said Vujović.
She added that the general director of UNESCO is the depository of all contractual obligations Audrey Azule, which he believes adds additional weight and seriousness to the realization of all obligations from the contract.
Based on all that, the minister says, the conclusion of the Agreement shows the readiness of the state to take action so that the crimes are not repeated, not to be forgotten and to ensure future generations a future in which peace, tolerance and understanding reign.
"Montenegro's participation in this project demonstrates its commitment to fostering a culture of memory, respecting human rights and respecting diversity, while condemning anti-Semitism and racism. It proves that Montenegro is on the side of the victim, on the side of the oppressed and humiliated, and that it is important to be on the right side of history. Even if they did not participate or were not affected directly, we show that we are pained by every innocent victim, as if it were ours, because every victim is, our brother and companion. For 'Never again' - to no one and nowhere!" said Vujović, who referred to today's conflicts that are present in the world, "in the hope that the forces of good will prevail and that we will no longer hear the cries of innocent victims, hungry and abused civilians anywhere again , who were deprived of all human dignity".
The National Museum of Montenegro - History Museum is included in the project
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