The President of Montenegro, Milo Đukanović, presented decorations on the occasion of July 13 - Statehood Day to a number of distinguished personalities for their significant contribution to the National Liberation Struggle, as well as to the construction and development of Montenegro, the restoration of its independence and affirmation in various periods.
Đukanović personally presented the Order of the Montenegrin Great Star to Radivoj Brajović, the Order of the Montenegrin Flag of the first degree to Vuk Dragašević, Zaria Vukašinović, Branko Banjević and posthumously to Rafet Husović.
The Order of the Montenegrin flag of the second degree was awarded by UBNOR and anti-fascist Nikšić and posthumously to Radoj Pajović.
The President also awarded Admiral Branko Mamula with the Order of the Montenegrin Flag of the first degree, which will be presented to him later.
He stated that "he could talk about the merits of each of the awardees for a very long time and with arguments."
"I awarded the Order of the Montenegrin Great Star to Radivoj Brajović. He is one of the most prominent Montenegrin leaders of the SR of Montenegro in the post-war period. states at that time. Montenegro, which was considered one of the most underdeveloped federal units in Yugoslavia, while Mr. Brajović led the Executive Council, was the closest to the Yugoslav development average. It also established very valuable international economic and political ties. After leaving the political and state functions, and the disintegration of the SFRY, he joined the fight for a civil, democratic and sovereign Montenegro. Before the referendum, he was a member of the Council of the Movement for the Restoration of the Independence of our country. Even today, he contributes to the progress and affirmation of Montenegro with his knowledge and experience," he said. Djukanovic.
He also explained why he awarded the Order of the Montenegrin Flag of the first degree to Dragašević, Vukašinović, Banjević, Mamula and posthumously to Husović.
"Vuko Dragašević is a prominent Montenegrin and Yugoslav politician and diplomat, a participant in the National Liberation Struggle since 1941 and bearer of the Partisan Memorial. He was a member of the Presidency of the SR of Montenegro, a minister in its government and in the Government of the SFRY, as well as the Yugoslav ambassador. In a long and very fruitful during his working and lifetime he made an exceptional contribution to the political, economic and social progress of the Pljeval region, Montenegro and Yugoslavia. He enthusiastically supported the restoration of Montenegrin independence".
Đukanović pointed out that even today Dragašević, with his reputation and involvement, contributes immensely to the preservation of anti-fascist heritage and the European path of development of our homeland.
"And Zarija Vukašinović has been a member of the NOR since 1941, the only living fighter of the Second Company of the Third Battalion of the Fourth Montenegrin Proletarian Brigade who led a heroic fight at Ljubina's grave on June 12 and 13, 1943 during the battle of Sutjeska. There were 40 proletarians at Ljubina's grave then who, on the order of Tito and the Supreme Staff to defend that position at the cost of their lives, replied: "As long as you hear the shots of our rifles at Ljubina's grave, the Germans will not pass. And when that doesn't happen, know that there are no more living proletarians on it". In his earliest youth he was in that company of immortals, and today, at the end of the tenth decade, he points out with equal fervor that fascism is the greatest evil, and that everyone must fight against it. fight".
"Branko Banjević is one of the greatest Montenegrin intellectuals, who in his childhood passed through the gates of war hell. He comes from a famous partisan family, so it is quite logical that, spending most of his childhood on the run, he also performed important courier jobs for the National Liberation Movement. He is one of the best Montenegrin poets, an excellent erudite, literary critic and literary historian who made an immeasurable contribution to the affirmation of Montenegrin national culture, especially literature and language. Thanks to him, reliable benchmarks of the value of Montenegrin writers and their works were established. He is an independent intellectual who is on all occasions and times he clearly expressed his views on social, cultural and political phenomena, openly engaging in the defense of Montenegro whenever it was in danger. He was one of the founders of the Society of Independent Writers and Matica Montenegrin, and their president. He is one of the initiators and member of the Council of the Movement for an Independent Montenegro on the eve of the 2006 referendum".
Đukanović also stated that the Montenegrin literary and intellectual scene was always, as it is today, recognizable by the involvement of Banjević.
"Branko Mamula has been a participant in the National Liberation War since 1941 and bearer of the Partisan Memorial. He rounded off a brilliant career that began in the Yugoslav Navy, where he attained the rank of admiral of the fleet, by performing the duties of Chief of the General Staff of the JNA and Minister of Defense of the SFRY. In Montenegro, which became second homeland, lives after the collapse of the former Yugoslavia, making a selfless contribution to its affirmation, development and progress. He remained consistent with the best values from the time of the anti-fascist National Liberation Struggle and the socialist construction of Yugoslavia. He is unreservedly integrated into contemporary Montenegrin society, with full support for the achievement of the strategic goals of contemporary Montenegro Worse on the domestic and foreign policy level.
"Unfortunately, Rafet Husović has not been with us recently. That we reverently preserve the memory of his character and work, and respect for everything he did for Montenegro during his short, fulfilling life, is confirmed by this award that we are awarding him posthumously. He was the leader of the Bosniak Party since its foundation. She made an exceptional contribution to the improvement of the position of the Bosniak people in Montenegro, as well as the restoration of Montenegrin independence, the achievement of the country's internal and foreign policy strategic goals, more balanced regional development, membership in NATO, and progress in the negotiation process with EU. Rafet Husović gave a special personal stamp to those valuable achievements, performing important state and political functions. He will be remembered for the fact that he made the Bosniak Party a member of the family of modern European parties - the European People's Party. And especially for his contribution to the improvement of multi-ethnic harmony, which contemporary citizen Montenegro is very proud".
The Order of the Montenegrin Flag of the second degree was awarded to the Association of NOR Fighters and Anti-Fascists of Nikšić, at the suggestion of SUBNOR, as well as posthumously to Pajović.
"The association of NOR fighters and anti-fascists from Nikšić has been considered the best association in the veterans' organization for years, not only because of the number of members, but also because of the concrete activities that promote and affirm freedom and anti-fascism as the fundamental values of Montenegro. Among other things, on their initiative in Nikšić, the 242 memorials were erected, and the names of 158 prominent people of the Nikšić region were preserved from oblivion. One of the most important activities is the development of anti-fascist awareness, especially among the young generation. They launched an extremely important campaign called "We are all anti-fascists" which brings together 27 organizations, institutions and secondary schools. In all primary and secondary schools, history classes and lectures dedicated to notable figures and events from the famous Montenegrin history were organized. Thanks to this, high school teams of young anti-fascists are multiple winners of the competition "Montenegro and its freedom". UBNOR Nikšić is also known for a very fruitful publishing activity dedicated to libertarianism, NOB and prominent individuals".
"Unfortunately, we are honoring Dr. Radoje Pajović posthumously. He was one of the most important Montenegrin historians, and according to his colleagues, the best historian for the period of Montenegro in the Second World War. He spent his entire working life at the Institute of History, published independently and as a co-author is 12 books. He is the author of the famous study "The XNUMXth of July Uprising in our and Italian sources". A special contribution to Montenegrin historiography is his professional and scientific fight against attempts to dispute the facts about the Second World War with unscientific revisionism. He argued and courageously fought against the rehabilitation of the leaders of the collaborationist of the Chetnik movement. He belonged to the circle of intellectuals who supported the restoration of the state independence of Montenegro and who contributed to the affirmation of the Montenegrin identity".
Đukanović pointed out that it is an honor for him, as the President of the country, to award high state honors to this group of Montenegrin and Yugoslav dignitaries.
"And at the same time, I would like to note - modern Montenegro still has not sufficiently shown the deserved respect to the generation of postwar ascetics, who, thanks to the unforgettable victory in World War II, during the phase of socialist development, laid the most valuable part of the foundation of our present-day state. I believe that this ceremony is only the beginning of our more adequate relationship towards the deserving people of that time," Đukanović concluded.
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