600 years ago, the Paštrovići enjoyed autonomy within the Venetian Republic, today they not only do not have it, but have become "second-class" citizens in their own territory, while Sveti Stefan, the former seat of the "bankade" and administrative and cultural center, was partially sold, although it is a cultural and historical treasure.
That's what a local told "Vijesti". Blazo Kazanegra, one of the initiators of the initiative to return the city-hotel "Sveti Stefan" to state ownership.
He emphasized that the year 2023 is very important for Sveti Stefan and Paštrovići, because two jubilees should be celebrated.
"The first jubilee is 600 years since the signing of the contract between Paštrović and Venice, and the second is 200 years since the birth Visarion Ljubisa. I was recently reminded of the first anniversary by a local, my uncle, an architect Zeljko Mitrovic. In the 15th century, on April 4, 1423, on a Venetian ship anchored in front of Drobni Pijes, the famous treaty was signed between the representatives of the Pashtra tribes and the Republic of Venice, represented by the admiral Francesco Bembo, commander of the Adriatic Sea. The wise Paštrovići, accepting the supreme authority of the Republic of Venice, received confirmation of previous privileges ('breveređe'), the right to choose a prince ('rector') who would judge according to the old Paštrov laws and customs, with the confirmation of customs privileges for trade in goods on the territory Republic of Venice", Kažanegra stated, citing data from the paper "Social and Economic Development of Paštrović". S. Davidović, from the Pastrovsk almanac.
Kažanegra states that the Paštrovići undertook to, in case of need, fight for Venice in the territory from Kotor to Bar. All this, he points out, implied a high degree of autonomy, i.e. judicial and legislative power in its territory, from Kufin to Babin Vir, but also guaranteed external protection from invaders.
"Back then, back in the Middle Ages, when most of Europe and the world was chained by the chains of feudalism, either by domestic or foreign rulers and princes, the Paštrovići had a high degree of autonomy, rights and freedoms in their territory - their own. Today, 600 years later, in the 21st century - the century of equality, tolerance and liberalism - the people of Paštrovići not only do not have autonomy, but have also obviously become second-class citizens in their own territory, while their city Sveti Stefan... has been partially sold to private entities . Many rights that citizens of Europe and the world have, Paštrovići obviously do not have today, so their freedom of movement is limited on their land".
Kazanegra explained that until recently they did not have the right to visit the beaches, where for centuries they docked their boats, fished and traded, that they did not have the right to enter their city - Sveti Stefan, which was built by their ancestors and lived in it for centuries.
"Simply put, they have no right to their material and cultural heritage, but also their intangible heritage because, as the architect says Slobodan Bobo Mitrović (director of the Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments of Montenegro 2003-2007), there is almost nothing on the island of Sveti Stefan today that would point to the history of that place and the people who lived there, except for the churches. Together with the citizens of Montenegro, they do not have the right to their national treasure, as do the peoples of the world. They had all these rights during the time of Venice, but also later".
Kažanegra states that the Paštrovići are not asking for the autonomy they had in the Middle Ages to be returned, although, as he points out, they have full legitimacy for such a thing, and the European Union "largely promotes the concept of administrative decentralization on various grounds".
"They want to be like all other citizens of the civilized world, to have all the civil rights enjoyed by other people and nations around them and nothing more. That they have the right to their history, their culture, their city, to walk freely in their public goods, to swim on their beaches, to walk freely in the streets and squares of their city, to have a full right to their cultural heritage, material and immaterial, together with all other citizens of Montenegro. This is not a luxury and citizens of almost all countries in the world already have this."
He states that for many years the locals suffered and refrained from using their public territories - beaches, streets and squares, in their town of Sveti Stefan, because they thought they were doing something that would be beneficial for them and for the whole society in the long term.
"They suffered, not to be rude, a kind of mild tourist apartheid, in the 21st century, which sometimes manifested itself in its full form at certain moments. After almost fifteen years of suffering and abstaining from their centuries-old rights and freedoms (partly voluntary and partly imposed), it became clear what it all leads to - the construction of apartments for the market in the zone of cultural and natural heritage, followed by the devastation of that same heritage. No project can be exclusive if the price of its exclusivity is the restriction of the centuries-old rights and freedoms of the locals who live there, as well as the devastation of our cultural and natural treasures. Now is the time to put things in their place and for the locals to become full citizens in their hometown, and nothing more is required”.
Evaluating that 2023 is very important for Paštrović, but also for the whole of Montenegro, Kažanegra said that the locals have begun informal discussions about celebrating important jubilees.
He states that he is an archaeologist and researcher in the field of culture Dusan Medin proposed the organization of a scientific conference aimed at producing a "fundamental scientific monograph" on the history of Saint Stephen.
"Similar projects are mentioned on the topic of researching the life and works of Visarion Ljubiša, and in this regard, it is also planned to organize conferences and make a monograph about this great man. There is also mention of the opening of the Museum of Pashtro history and culture, which would enrich the tourist offer of the place, as well as the installation of a memorial plaque at the birth house of Visarion Ljubiša, with an agreement with the current owner/tenant and with their consent. It would also be desirable for one of the streets on the island to be named after Visarion Ljubiša".
Kažanegra points out that it is necessary to organize various cultural manifestations, lectures, exhibitions, workshops, literary and poetic evenings, and culinary events more often on St. Stephen's.
"All in the spirit of promoting local culture - a concept that is gaining more and more importance in a modern world full of speed and alienation. Sveti Stefan has the potential to be open in winter as a city (while the hotel is closed), with at least one restaurant, museum and souvenir shop for day visitors, of which there would certainly be many, especially from Montenegro and the region. We expect these two jubilees to be celebrated in the free city of Sveti Stefan, which will be returned to full state ownership by January 2023 (by an administrative act or an agreement on the exchange of shares), open to all people of good will, with a stable resolution of the dispute with the current tenant ( compromise, settlement, etc.). It would certainly be desirable if the Municipality of Budva and the departmental Ministry of Education and Culture help the organization of these important jubilees with financial resources and logistics".
Metropolitan, negotiator with the Vatican, first minister of education...
Kažanegra points out that Visarion Ljubiša (1823-1884) is "an important historical figure, undeservedly neglected and forgotten in our society, even in the immediate community".
"The great man was born on Saint Stephen's Day on Savindan, January 14, 1823 (January 27 according to the current calendar), and was named Vasilije. After receiving monastic tonsure at a young age, he was given the name Visarion. He served for a long time in many churches and monasteries on the coast, while also teaching in local schools. By moving to Montenegro, numerous opportunities opened up for him, so he soon gained great trust from King (Prince) Nikola. He was the archimandrite of the Morača and Cetinje monasteries, the rector of the Cetinje seminary, the bishop of Zahum-Raška, the metropolitan of Montenegro, the first minister of education of Montenegro, as well as the first president of the Red Cross of Montenegro. He participated in the collection of materials for the preparation of the General Property Code. He was the main negotiator with the Vatican regarding the signing of the concordat, and is considered the author of the draft of the initial text of the agreement, which was later largely accepted in the final version. During his stay in Rome, he met with Josip Juraj Štrosmajer, who was an adviser to the Montenegrin side in the negotiations. He was supposed to be admitted to an audience with the Pope, but some cardinals did not allow it because Visarion was then in the rank of bishop, which made Strossmeier very angry, as evidenced by one of his letters addressed to Prince Nicholas a little later. He hung out with Simo Matavulje, Stjepan Mitro Ljubiša, Jovan Pavlović and other prominent people of that time. He was also one of the founding members of the Cetinje Reading Room. Before his death, he left his house in Cetinje "to the poor poor who live in the town of Cetinjska, which will be managed by the municipality of the same town and given as rent, and the rent from this will be distributed to the poor."
Kažanegra points out that today there is no sign of his birth house on Sveti Stefan and that, in another country, that house would probably be a museum or similar, which "is not the fault of the current tenant".
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