All the steps taken by the Royal Capital after the two tragic events that occurred in Cetinje were an attempt to respond to unimaginable tragedies, however, to truly create a system of resilience, the strength of institutions and a clear response from the state are needed that will ensure that the voice of Cetinje is heard and respected and that the Conclusions of the Royal Capital Assembly do not remain a dead letter on paper.
This was said by the Mayor of Cetinje, Nikola Đurašković, in his address at an extraordinary session of the local parliament, dedicated to the dynamics of the implementation of the conclusions reached in connection with the tragic events.
He recalled that after the tragic event at the beginning of this year, the Assembly of the Royal Capital adopted a series of conclusions with the clear aim of ensuring that a similar tragedy never happens again and to restore citizens' trust in the institutions that have the obligation to protect them. Unfortunately, as he says, despite the determination of the request, there has been no response from some state bodies, as well as a reaction that would "at least symbolically acknowledge the gravity of the situation".
"Instead of an institutional response, there was silence, and instead of responsibility – silence. That is why, as the Mayor of the Royal Capital of Cetinje, I have decided to request the convening of another extraordinary session of the Royal Capital Assembly, not out of political motives, but out of a sense of moral obligation towards all those who suffered, towards their families and towards every citizen of this city who deserves to know what we have done and where we stand today. For all the citizens of Cetinje who protest every day and all those who have protested for days throughout Montenegro. Thank you for your perseverance and determination," said Đurašković, as announced by the Royal Capital.
The City Administration of the Royal Capital, as he says, at times when responses were not coming from those "from whom they were most expected, when letters, requests and public appeals sent to the competent state bodies remained unanswered or without concrete reactions", within its jurisdiction, took "concrete and substantive steps aimed at the recovery of the city".
"We have formed an Operational Team for the Improvement of Psychosocial Support, composed of representatives of all relevant institutions, with the aim of improving the mental health of our fellow citizens, where programs of continuous support for all categories of the population and measures for long-term monitoring and protection of mental health were considered. In accordance with the adopted Conclusions of the Assembly of the Royal Capital, we have launched a project to establish a modern video surveillance system. After forming a working group and holding meetings with the Personal Data Protection Agency, an agreement with the Ministry of Internal Affairs will be drawn up, as well as defining locations and preparing project documentation after all technical prerequisites have been met," emphasized the Mayor of Cetinje.
Đurašković recalled that the Royal Capital, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation, has provided security guards to all educational institutions in Cetinje.
"This measure aims to provide additional support to schools and kindergartens, to increase the sense of security among children, parents and employees, and to take preventive action in the event of any form of violence. In addition, it is planned to engage psychologists in all educational institutions, as well as additional engagement of psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers in the Cetinje Health Center, in order to provide a broader and more accessible support system, not only for children and young people, but also for all our fellow citizens who need professional help in the processes of coping and recovery," said Đurašković.
The Royal Capital has also established the House of Health, which will "be a center for providing services" for psychosocial support to individuals, families and groups, as well as for counseling and other services in the fields of health, social and child protection.
"Through the activities of the secretariat, institutions and services of the Royal Capital, numerous workshops, performances and forums were organized for more than 1000 students, with the aim of promoting mental health and providing a safe space for expression and learning. Numerous conversations were also held with representatives of cultural and educational institutions, academies, as well as international partners, in order to further strengthen the spirit of togetherness and solidarity among all residents of the Royal Capital through joint program activities," he added.
Đurašković said that Cetinje "was and remains a city of defiance and pride", but also a city that "knows how to bear pain with dignity".
"Our task today is not just to remember, but to create the conditions so that such a tragedy never happens again," he said.
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