Milatović: Freedom is not inherited, it is earned and defended every day

The freedom we live in today was not given as a gift, it was won with blood, tears and an unwavering belief that a person must be free to be worthy of their name, and in that struggle the people of Montenegro occupy a special place, President Jakov Milatović said today.

Milatović, as announced by his office, spoke at a ceremony on Gorica Hill, at the Monument to the Partisan Fighter, on the occasion of May 9, Victory Day over Fascism.

"Today we mark May 9th, one of the brightest dates in the history of mankind, Victory Day over Fascism. It is the day when evil was defeated, but not forgotten. A day that calls us not only to celebration, but also to remembrance, respect and responsibility," said Milatović.

He emphasized that the freedom enjoyed by European peoples today did not come by itself, but was won through enormous sacrifices and the perseverance of generations who opposed fascism.

"The freedom we live in today was not given, it was won. Won with blood, tears and an unwavering belief that a man must be free to be worthy of his name," said Milatović.

It is stated that special emphasis was placed on the historical role of Montenegro and its people in the anti-fascist struggle, especially during the period when Europe was under occupation.

"In that struggle, the people of Montenegro occupy a special place. In the most difficult moments, when Europe was conquered and when many believed that resistance was not possible, Montenegro rose up. On July 13, 1941, a spark of freedom ignited," said Milatović, adding that the uprising was not just a rebellion.

"It was a cry of dignity, defiance against the occupier and proof that even a numerically small nation can have a big heart. At a moment when it seemed that darkness was invincible, Montenegro showed that the light cannot be extinguished," Milatović said.

He said that it was a moment when ordinary people became heroes, and that everyone stood up not out of hatred, but out of love for the country, freedom, descendants, and the future.

"Many gave the most valuable thing they had, their lives. There was almost no house without sadness, without loss, without a wound that never fully healed. From that suffering, greatness was born. Freedom was born. Montenegro was born, which knows that dignity has no price," Milatović emphasized.

He warned that fascism should not be viewed merely as a historical phenomenon, but as a permanent warning to contemporary society.

"Today, when we live in peace, it is our duty to remember. Not only to pay tribute, but to understand that fascism is not just the past, but also a warning. A warning of what happens when hatred overcomes reason and when the value of man is forgotten. Therefore, Victory Day is not only a day of history, but also a day of conscience," Milatović believes.

He said that the idea of ​​modern Europe was created precisely on the basis of the victory over fascism and the determination that war would never again be an option.

"Europe was founded on the idea that war must become unthinkable. Montenegro today must build a society in which stability, justice and security are equally unquestionable," the president said, pointing to the importance of restoring Montenegrin independence.

"Today, two decades since the restoration of Montenegro's independence, we stand as a free and sovereign state, aware that this freedom has deep roots in the anti-fascist struggle, in sacrifice and in the belief that freedom is not inherited, but earned," Milatović stated.

He emphasized that one must always keep in mind that anti-fascism is not only part of our past, but also the foundation of our identity, our statehood, and our future.

"Our obligation to the generations that won freedom is to build an orderly state in which people stay, work and plan their future. Our path leads to the European family of nations. But that path is not just political or economic, it is a path of values," Milatović assessed.

According to him, the Europe we aspire to is not just a space, but an idea built on the victory over fascism and the belief that freedom, equality, and dignity are inviolable.

"The sacrifice of Montenegro is built into the foundations of that Europe. Therefore, our European path is not a denial of ourselves, but a confirmation of who we are, who we have always been and who we will be," said Milatović.

He said that today, when we live in a peace that was won at the greatest price, our responsibility is greater than ever: to remember, to learn, and to preserve, stating that Victory Day is not just a date and it is not just a celebration.

"The question is whether we are worthy of our ancestors who left us freedom. The question is whether our ancestors died for the Montenegrin land so that someone who was in power yesterday or is in power today would sell and resell it? So that someone would destroy the space liberated and defended with pain and blood? Our coast, forests, rivers and sea," said Milatović.

He called for a shared responsibility to preserve freedom and the values ​​of anti-fascism on a daily basis, through actions, attitudes towards people, and care for society.

Milatović said that Victory Day is a vow that we will preserve what our ancestors created, that we will defend freedom not only with words, but also with deeds, and that we will never forget the price paid for it.

"Because freedom is not won once, it is preserved and defended every day. In our decisions, in our words, in our relationship with others. In how we build society, how we protect the weaker and how we remain human even when it is most difficult," Milatović emphasized.