Vraneš paid tribute to both Partisans and Chetniks

Montenegro, as a democratic and civilized country, should finally get rid of all the conflicts from the past and work on internal reconciliation, so that the hatchets can be buried once and for all, and everyone will truly start to respect each other, so that everyone can go to a better future together.

This was said by the President of the Municipality of Pljevlja, Dario Vraneš, in front of the monument to those who fell in the fight against fascism on Stražica, after laying flowers and lighting candles in the crypt of the monument, on the occasion of November 20, the Day of the Municipality of Pljevlja.

Previously, Vraneš lit candles only twenty meters from the monument on Stražica, at the place of the pit where, according to some historians and politicians, the communists threw 25 fighters from Pljevlja who fought for the king and the fatherland.

"Today we are here to pay our respects to all the heroes who gave their lives so that we can live in freedom today. Here at the pit on Stražica, we laid a wreath, prayed to God and lit a candle for all the heroes who were in the Chetnik movement and who gave their lives for freedom. Also here at the monument on Stražica, we paid our respects to all the heroes and all the heroes in the partisan movement who gave their lives so that we could live in freedom today. We all know, unfortunately, that in the Second World War there were several movements that fought against fascism. Unfortunately for our people, sometimes these movements were also in conflict with each other. However, human life is the most valuable thing and we must not judge by victims and everyone who gave his life for the freedom of his people is worthy of our respect," said Vraneš.

He believes that November 20 will be celebrated for the last time as the Day of the Municipality, given that the parliamentary majority recently adopted October 27 as the new day of the Municipality of Pljevlja.

Consent to the decision of the local parliament should be given by the Government.

"We are all eagerly awaiting the decision to make it October 27," said Vraneš.

The laying of wreaths at the Monument on the Guard this year was specially organized by veterans' organizations, political organizations and local self-government.

The Association of Fighters and Anti-Fascists, the Democratic Party of Socialists, the Social Democrats and the Bosniak Party, United Montenegro and the Association of Citizens on November 20, candles and wreaths were laid at 10 a.m. and an hour later by the delegation of the Municipality and Municipal Assembly of Pljevlja, the Democratic Party of Montenegro, the Europe Sad Movement, SNP as well as the Municipal Organization of NOR fighters.

Honorary president of the OO fighters of NOR, Vidoje Despotović, said that the Pljeval region lost 1840 citizens as victims of fascist terror and war.

"Ninety-two were killed by Germans, 182 Italians, 33 were killed by Muslim militia and 1540 were killed by Chetnik units, quislings and collaborators of the occupiers," Despotović said.

He visited that in the memorial ossuary of the monument on Stražica rests 567 fighters who died in the Battle of Pljevlja and other battles.

He called on those gathered to preserve the heritage of the liberation wars.

The president of the Association of Fighters and Anti-Fascists in Pljevlja, Goran Čavić, said that 79 years ago, after four long years of war and occupation, Pljevlja was liberated.

That was the day on November 20, 1944, when the partisans of the Third Proletarian Brigade smashed the German and Chetnik formations in the city. It was the third and last liberation of Pljevlja during the Second World War. In that war, about seven thousand fighters from the Pljeval municipality participated in the units of the People's Liberation Army, of which 567 died together with about two thousand citizens.

Out of 2000 citizens, 92 were killed by the Germans, 182 by the Italians and the rest by local quislings. And here I will stop talking about history, not because it is not important, but because it is not important, but because today in Pljevlje we have an open negation of these heroic deeds and feats, because this is a burning problem at this moment," said Čavić.

He said that today's gathering is not only a reminder of the liberation of Pljevlja, but also a protest gathering of free-thinking, pro-European and civilized people of this city and country.

"We want to send a message to the local and state authorities, that there are enough of us who do not agree with the outrageous decision to apply the municipal day to another date. The political majority that makes up the government in Pljevlja, thinking that it will last forever and ever, touched the brightest feelings of all anti-fascists of this city and country, all people who know basic things from history and who, if nothing else, heard from their ancestors what and who worked during the war. This is not about correcting any historical injustice, but about showing the current power of the government and trying to rewrite history. We know that it is the ideology of some of those who raised their hands to change that date, and we know very well that that date is an eternal reminder of the collaborationism, betrayal and crime of those who try to perpetuate it. Today, instead of national flags on the streets of our city, instead of November festivities, cultural and entertainment programs celebrating this great day in the local administration, we have silence. People come to this place today because it is a legal obligation and not for moral, human and civilizational reasons. If some religious or national sentiments are more important to someone else and he thought that some other important dates from the history of this city remained busy, he could record those dates in a different way, the way we would all accept and look forward to that day. To erase such a day in shame by force is an uncivilized act because Pljevlja is an anti-fascist, multi-ethnic and multi-religious city in whose history, someone's four or eight years means nothing. Remember that everyone is born to live once, and honor and glory live forever. "Does it mean that with every change of government we change the day of the municipality and that the whole country and the environment laugh at us, as is the case now," Čavić said.

He called on the local government to lead this city responsibly, wisely and honorably, and the Government to cancel the proposal of the local parliament as soon as possible because it violates the fundamental values ​​on which this city rests.

The Day of the Municipality of Pljevlja was celebrated more modestly than in previous years.

The session of the local parliament, which began with the singing of the Montenegrin national anthem, was not attended by Nova, DNP and Movement for Pljevlja councilors, who have been boycotting the ceremonial sessions on November 20, Pljevlja Municipality Day for years. The President of the Municipality Dario Vraneš (Nova) attended the session, but he did not speak at it, which was the practice in previous years, when the results of the work between two holidays were usually summarized.

"We will not attend the ceremonial session, because that day is not the day of the liberation of Pljevlja, but the day when one of the political armies participating in the Fraternal War occupied Pljevlja. "Pljevlja was liberated from the Germans on September 13, 1944, and since that date there have been no occupying soldiers in Pljevlja," said Nova councilor Božidar Jelovac.

Addressing the audience, the president of the SO Pljevlja, Jovana Tošić, said that it is the right time to forget about differences and divisions and turn to unity and the common fight for a better tomorrow.

"It is important that we all make a real contribution together through constant care and awareness of the city we live in, continue to be committed to solving pressing but also the smallest problems. The task of all of us is to enable the equal participation of every individual from the youngest to the oldest and most vulnerable categories. By taking constant care of all our fellow citizens and applying the principles of moral and ethical behavior, we create a world of equal opportunities for everyone. In addition to natural potential, our greatest treasures are people and children. We have witnessed that years ago, especially young people, unfortunately, left Pljevlja en masse. If we were to wonder why people were leaving Pljevlja and not coming, today we would celebrate every day when a young man decided to return to the city. We would celebrate every day when a child is born in the Pljeval hospital. That's why we invite you to celebrate life, peace as a great reward in these difficult and challenging times, respecting and appreciating all historical events worth mentioning. We also appreciate and respect our present, which our ancestors left us, and it is our obligation to also leave a future worthy of living to our descendants.

On the occasion of the Municipal Day, a student award was given to Sara Milinković, a student at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, whose average grade is ten.