Ahead of August 19th - the Day of the training ship "Jadran", the NGO Council of Boka Kotorska launched a petition in Tivat yesterday, requesting that the Montenegrin authorities not hand over this valuable old-timer sailing ship to Croatia under any circumstances, but rather that it remain in Tivat and Montenegro.
Croatia is claiming from Montenegro the "Jadran", which was built for the Royal Yugoslav Navy in 1933 in Germany. Official Zagreb says that it is a Croatian ship, which must be returned to Split, where it spent most of its time during the existence of the SFRY - in the local naval port "Lora", of the Yugoslav Navy.
Montenegro, however, citing the historical circumstances surrounding the dissolution of the SFRY in 1991 and the Agreement on Succession Issues of the Former Yugoslavia, signed in 2001 by all former Yugoslav republics and the then Federal Republic of Yugoslavia on behalf of Serbia and Montenegro, believes that the attractive old sailing ship now belongs to it completely legally. The Montenegrin Ministry of Defense is even more resolute, saying that there can be no negotiations with Croatia on this matter.
Official Zagreb is not giving up on the "Jadran" and is imposing the return of that ship as one of the so-called open issues in relations with Montenegro.
The Boka Kotorska NGO Council - which last year organized a roundtable in Tivat on the historical circumstances surrounding the purchase and construction of the training sailboat, and the subsequent decades-long use of the "Jadran" in the Yugoslav Navy - announced yesterday that they had organized the signing of a citizens' petition requesting that the "Jadran" remain in Montenegro.
"On the eve of the ninety-third birthday of the training ship (SB) 'Jadran' and its still uncertain fate, the NGO Council of Boka Kotorska, in agreement with all its constituent NGO organizations and the maxim under which we operate 'Super omnia veritas - truth above all', has made a decision to announce and organize a public and voluntary declaration - a petition of all citizens of Boka Kotorska and Montenegro with the aim of keeping the SB 'Jadran' in Tivat, or, more precisely - where it belongs," they stated.
The NGO Council of Boka Kotorska said that based on "irrefutable documents" it is known who ordered the "Jadran", with what financial means it was paid for, in whose honor it was ordered, and for which navy and country it was built.
They say that it is also known that the state of Montenegro acquired "Adriatic" completely legally, in accordance with the generally valid and generally accepted territorial criterion "uti possidetis" which was applied in the distribution of immovable and movable property of the former common state of SFRY, according to which the division of military property was also carried out and which, they claim, did not favor Montenegro in any way, on the contrary.
"All of the above are reasons that gave us strength and motivated us to defend not only our rights and interests, but first and foremost to defend timeless human values - truth and justice. The same thing encouraged us to seek help in this from you, the citizens, certain that you are guided by the same principles and value system," the NGO Council of Boka Kotorska emphasized, adding that the list of support for "Jadran" to remain in Montenegro, for all those willing to support this action, will be available at the reception desk of the Municipality of Tivat.
They stated that on Wednesday (August 19), on the sailboat's official birthday, a stand will be set up at Pine where a public and ceremonial petition signing will be organized (from 18 p.m. to 22 p.m.) "with the aim of keeping it at the anchorage where it belongs - in Tivat."
"The signing of this petition and the public declaration of free citizens of Montenegro will be organized and available throughout the territory of our country," the statement from the NGO Council of Boka Kotorska reads.
On the occasion of the Day of the Training Ship "Jadran", the Ministry of Defense and the Navy of the Army of Montenegro organized several events. Last weekend, "Open Door Days" were organized on the sailing ship, which was visited by the widest possible audience, who were able to learn about the technical characteristics and history of the "Jadran" in conversation with the ship's crew.
On Sunday, the traditional regatta of the training ship “Jadran” was held in the waters of the Tivat Bay, organized by the crew of that sailing ship and the Sailing Club “Delfin” from Tivat. Sailing took place around Tunja, Gospa od Milosti and Sveti Marko, and the regatta brought together 19 crews. Special attention was drawn to the first participation of the traditional wooden boat “šljuka”, with the crew of the Navy of the Republic of Montenegro and the training ship “Jadran”, in the “sailing boat” class. The fastest ship of the regatta was the cruiser “Auckland”, with the skipper By Dimitriy Gedulanov, and the announcement of the winners and the awarding of prizes to the best in each class were held on the deck of the "Jadrana", at Pini.
In memory of August 19, 1933, when the then newly built sailing ship in the port of Tivat was officially entered into the fleet list of the Royal Yugoslav Navy, the Day of the training ship "Jadran" will be marked in Tivat on the same day this year (Wednesday), with a ceremonial reception on board for high-ranking guests from the political, military and social life of Montenegro.
The hosts of the reception will be the commander of the "Jadran", the captain of the corvette Ivan Laković, and Acting Commander of the Navy of the Armed Forces of Montenegro, Lieutenant Commander Slobodan Tomasevic.
See more:
Download the app and follow the news
FOLLOW US ON
