It has been 76 years since the prison on Mamula was dissolved

With a visit to the island of Lastavica and the ceremonial laying of flowers and wreaths in the Mamula fortress in Herceg Novi, 76 years have been marked since the dissolution of the prison that was established in that fortress during the Second World War.

It was also marked 11 years since the initiation of the memorial gathering initiative on this date, reports Infobiro.

The meeting was organized by the Organization of NOR fighters, Herceg Novi and the Luštica Local Government, in cooperation with the company OHM Mamula, which has been supporting the organization of the memorial day for five years, and for the last two years has suspended work on the reconstruction of the fortifications in order to hold the memorial gathering.

The president of the municipal organization of the NOR fighters' union, Mihailo Kilibarda, recalled that in Mamula, 810 people from Novlja were imprisoned, followed by 356 from Kotor, 110 from Budva and 122 from Tivat.

"In 2013, from this place, I and the then President of the Municipality, respected Dejan Mandić, raised the issue of dedicating a corner here to prisoners," Kilibarda said.

As he stated, they received a kind of consent to open a memorial room on the left side, and according to the latest information, it will be a large gallery in which there will be exhibits not only from the Second World War, but also from the First World War, as well as from the previous ones. period.

"We have been promised these days that expert associates from various professions will visit Rome, Vienna, Berlin, Oxford, Prague and Budapest to find the documentation that will be part of that gallery. That gallery will be eternal," said Kilibarda.

The NOR Herceg Novi fighters' organization presented a certificate of appreciation for the realization of the goals and contribution to the affirmation of that organization to the PR advisor of the OHM Mamula Dragana Bećirović.

Bećirović pointed out that this company, out of respect for the history of Lastavica and Mamula, made it possible to hold the meeting this year as well.

"Although it is a work zone where access to unauthorized persons is prohibited, OHM Mamula has always expressed its will to respect the memories of the history of the fortress. This was precisely the motive to initiate communication with the Association of NOR Fighters from Herceg Novi and help hold the memorial gathering," added Bećirović.

As she stated, the Mamula project is carried out according to the highest international standards for the restoration of cultural assets.

"All works on the reconstruction and adaptation of the Mamula fortifications on the island of Lastavica are in accordance with the urban-technical and conservation conditions and are under the supervision of relevant experts and state institutions," said Bećirović.

At the moment, she added, the last phase of the earthworks on the central plateau, where mechanization is engaged, is being carried out.

"The works include clearing the land and removing rock material up to the projected elevation of the excavation, for the purpose of introducing buried service contents. After the formation of auxiliary facilities and the internal technical block under the plateau, the earth embankment will be returned, and the plateau will get its original appearance," said Bećirović.

The meeting was also attended by representatives of the local administration.

"We are traditionally here this year as well, to pay due respect to the fallen patriots. I am honored that this tradition continues, and that such a large number of people have gathered. I have repeated several times that all peoples from this area who do not respect their past do not have a future either", said the President of the Municipality of Herceg Novi, Stevan Katic.

He announced that he would also visit the fortress in the coming period to, as he said, see what the plans are for the future.

"I am glad that I heard today that there will be a memorial room in the basement of the future complex, as a sign of memory for all the fallen patriots who lost their lives in this camp. If it is necessary to provide support in this regard to the Association of Fighters, as someone who arranged the whole story, the municipality of Herceg Novi will surely be of help to them", said Katic.