NSD writes a declaration on reconciliation for a European Montenegro

Key messages from the speech of the President of the New Serbian Democracy (NSD) and the Parliament of Montenegro, Andrija Mandić, held at Fundina, will be shaped into a political declaration on reconciliation and unity in European Montenegro, the NSD announced.

NSD spokesman Mirko Miličić claims that Mandić's speech "met with strong approval in all parts of Montenegro, and especially among the Serbian people."

His statement, published on the NSD Facebook page, also claims that their "policy of reconciliation has become an absolute trend and favorite in the country and the region."

He adds that their policy of reconciliation "has become one of the central political topics in the region, and that numerous media outlets, both in Montenegro and beyond its borders, are commenting on and analyzing the historic speech by the President of the NSD and the Parliament of Montenegro, Andrija Mandić, held at Fundina."

In his post, Miličić did not address the criticism and insults that followed the events in Fundina over the weekend from the media in Serbia, which are close to the regime of the country's President Aleksandar Vučić.

In these criticisms, Mandić was called a "traitor", a "paid Serb", a "disruptor of Serbness"...

Miličić announced that the declaration will soon be submitted to the parliamentary procedure, "with the aim of charting a new path of cooperation, mutual respect and trust among all peoples and citizens of our country."

"One of the fundamental messages of the declaration will be that Montenegro is a common state for all its citizens and that diversity does not represent a threat, but rather an asset to our society. The free expression of Serbian, Montenegrin and all other national and cultural identities must not be built on challenging or denying anyone else's. Everyone has the right to their own identity and no one should be seen as less valuable or less part of Montenegro because they belong to a certain people, speak a certain language, profess a certain religion or cherish cultural and historical ties with other countries," the announcement reads.

Miličin states that an important part of the declaration will be the position that different views and memories of individual historical events must not be a reason for permanent political hostility between today's generations.

"Our gaze must be turned towards a common European future, because it belongs to all of us and it is precisely this that shows us how to embrace all our differences. Dialogue and agreement are the foundation of lasting change and healing of our society. The future of Montenegro will be decided in Montenegro, while at the same time nurturing the best relations with all our historically close and friendly countries and peoples. In the coming days, the citizens of Montenegro will have the opportunity to learn about other important and healthy ideas that will be an integral part of this declaration. We are convinced that this document will have historical significance for our country and open space for a new political culture based on respect, dialogue and agreement," said Miličić.