Today's Montenegro does not live in long-gone times, it remembers them, it is proud of its libertarian history and forever grateful to our ancestors who preserved our freedom and identity through the centuries, said Prime Minister Duško Marković at the central celebration of the Day of Montenegrin Statehood and the Day of the Montenegrin People's Uprising.
"But today's Montenegro is facing the future. Under our common roof there is enough room for everyone who sees Montenegro as their home: Montenegrins and Serbs and Albanians and Muslims and Bosniaks and Croats and everyone else, however they feel and declare themselves," Markovic said.
He pointed out that never in its history has Montenegro been more stable, more prosperous and more respected among the nations and states of the world.
"With renewed independence, with an equal place in today's leading political and security alliance, with an ever stronger economy – Montenegro has risen from the Balkan gloom and caught up with the most advanced societies of the 21st century," he said.
He added that "we respect every neighbor and his sovereign right to regulate relations in his own house and that we stand for the peaceful resolution of all misunderstandings and conflicts in the ZB, because without the stability of the entire region there is no stability or progress for any individual country".
"We believe that this goal can be reached the fastest through our and neighboring countries' integration into the EU. Our region is the scene of a global competition for influence, in which everyone uses the mechanisms at their disposal," said the Prime Minister.
Marković expressed his belief that after solving their own challenges, the EU countries will more decisively use the strongest lever of their policies towards the Western Balkans – the enlargement policy. He added that nobody can discourage or stop Montenegro on its way to the EU, "and that we will convince both skeptics and opponents that Europe needs this kind of Montenegro".
The Prime Minister called for unification in the next few years in this joint effort - obtaining full membership of Montenegro in the EU, for the common good of all citizens, and above all the youngest generations.
"Let it be a common goal, more important than personal vanities and political hatreds; more important than our all kinds of divisions. Let it be a point of future compromise and social cohesion," said Marković.
Through a historical prism, the prime minister spoke about the successes but also the sufferings of our ancestors for the victory of anti-fascism, for the victory of today's Europe. He also added that, on the Day of the Uprising against the occupiers, we must recall historical facts: not every Montenegrin citizen was on the side of the anti-fascist coalition.
"I am reminding you of this inexorable truth - not to open old wounds, not to revive age-old divisions. Let all the victims of fratricidal suffering rest in peace. Today, I am reminding you of the painful page of our history so that it would never happen again," said the president. Markovic.
He added that even today there are those who are ready to serve other people's interests, that they see Montenegrin independence as a passing epoch until they return to the hands of others.
In his speech, President Marković also referred to the church issue and said that this issue will be resolved democratically, based on the Constitution and the law, and not by anyone's will or decrees.
"We will not leave this unnecessary burden to the generations to come. That is why in today's Montenegro, no church will write laws, but will - like everyone else - have to respect those brought by the democratically elected government, in accordance with the highest European standards. Therefore, the Church of God laws, to the government and parliament - terrestrial," said Marković.
He added that the biggest sins of Montenegro today are that it does not want tutors and guardians, "that it has learned to follow the interests of its citizens, that it is determined to defend the national identity and national uniqueness of Montenegrins within the civil state of all others who live with them".
"Finally, membership in the North Atlantic Alliance ensured the inviolability of its borders and permanent peace for its citizens".
The Prime Minister congratulated the citizens on the Day of Statehood and the Day of the Uprising against the fascist occupier - both as the dates of Montenegrin victory.
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