Mandić: The works of this year's award winners are a symbol of what July 13th should be in the 21st century

The works, dedication and successes of this year's winners of the highest state award, the Thirteenth of July Award, are just a symbol of what July 13 should be in the 21st century, said the President of the Parliament of Montenegro, Andrija Mandić, at the ceremony to award the award.

"The award went to poet Bećir Vuković for his work 'Homeless Houses', which penetrates the depths of the human soul and depicts our reality in a manner worthy of the greatest names in Serbian literature. Graphic artist Veljo Stanišić for his author's exhibition 'Evolution', which represents a powerful artistic expression and reminds us that national history is not written only with pen and sword, but also with brush strokes on canvas. Your works, dedication and successes are a symbol of what July 13th should be in the 21st century," said Mandić, adding that "we must never again allow the name of Montenegro to be distorted."

The winners of the Thirteenth of July Award for this year are, in addition to poet Bećir Vuković, graphic artist Veljo Stanišić and musician Miloš Karadaglić, who previously announced that he could not accept the award "under these circumstances".

On the eve of the ceremony, incidents occurred in front of Villa Gorica at a protest organized by the Strategy for a European and Civic Montenegro (STEGA), because, according to them and other legal experts, the law was violated during the awarding of this year's Thirteenth of July Award.

They pointed out that by law, more than one Thirteenth of July Award cannot be awarded in one field, while this year all winners were awarded in the field of art.

Protesters tried unsuccessfully to break through the police cordon securing the entrance to Villa Gorica where the ceremony is being held several times this evening. The police responded by using pepper spray, to which the protesters responded by throwing eggs and stones.

As Mandić said, as we stand here "under the flags that symbolize two key milestones of our history, July 13, 1878 and July 13, 1941, we deeply bow to the glorious past and look to the future with responsibility."

"These two years are united by the same value - the fight for freedom and dignity of Montenegro. Just a few days ago, we marked 150 years in Nevesinje since the Nevesinje Rifle, an uprising that opened the Eastern Question and announced the Great War that would end with the Berlin Congress. One historical fact remains unquestionable: on July 13, 1878, Montenegro and Serbia received international recognition. They became subjects of international law and made their historical freedoms visible and present in the diplomatic salons of Europe."

He said that July 13, 1878, is the foundation on which "we must educate the young generations."

"The second July 13, the one from 1941, testifies to the same primordial spark of freedom that burns in the hearts of our people. That day was an authentic and nationwide response to the occupier's attempt to humiliate the honor and name of Montenegro. Occupied Montenegro rose up on that July 13 and liberated itself over the next few days. The strength of the uprising rested on unity and harmony. All differences were put aside, because the goal of liberating Montenegro was everyone's first priority," said Mandić.

He pointed out that this is the same people who never kissed chains.

"... And who bravely stood up to defend what was most sacred to him - freedom, honor and the name of Montenegro. Unfortunately, that situation did not last long. Montenegro was divided and a bloody civil war broke out. As our renowned historians and historiographers have so far determined, around 46.000 citizens of Montenegro died in that city collapse. Of these, 25.000 victims were fighters and sympathizers of the Yugoslav army, while the victims of the communist movement were around 21.000 people. Never in the history of the country has such a large and deep wound opened that we see to this day," he said.

Mandić said that the mission is to educate young people to know where they come from.

"... Let us teach them that freedom is not given, but is won. That justice is not a declaration, but a struggle. That serving the people is not a phrase, but a life calling. And most importantly, that brotherly love and reconciliation have no price, nor an alternative."

He stated that Montenegro must remain "synonymous with freedom."

"Salaries and pensions must be even higher. We must create security for new generations, but also for the oldest ones who have dedicated their lives to this society. We have set clear goals. We must make our Montenegro a country of free, happy and wealthy people. On the foreign policy front, the path is clear – we will bring Montenegro into the community of the most developed democratic countries in Europe... We must, above all, reconcile among ourselves... The time of the dictatorship of one man, one party and one milieu is over. Those dark times will never return. This is the time of agreement, forgiveness and fraternal reconciliation," said Mandić.

He emphasized that reconciliation is “a bridge between two shores of the same people and nations”. Reconciliation, he emphasized, is a ray of love and reason and it cannot be a weakness. “The fraternal word of reconciliation and love is strong, and deeds, whether great or small, are even stronger. And we all have to make our contribution – to reconcile with each other, so that suspicion, selfishness and discouragement disappear”.

The winner of the Thirteenth of July Award and poet, Bećir Vuković, said that the world has found itself in great chaos and "we are all feeling general shifts."

"We should do some work on ourselves and turn to the world that is passing by us. And as a society and culture, we have set out for civilized Europe. Just so we don't lose our minds. So that Europe doesn't call us under a common roof divided like this. Anyway, Europe is uniting, and we are dividing. Culture dictates that we solve our problems at home, and only then move across the threshold into the world. Disputed and unreconciled, we have no place anywhere, least of all in Christian and civilized Europe. The unreconciled cannot be under one roof. It is a symbol of the future, and the basement is the past and a hole."

He said that "we are still in the deep shadow of what is no longer there," adding that "we must wake up from our sleep."

He said that the time of discrimination, persecution, ideological persecution, as well as the unfit, is passing.

"The one who is persecuted, the persecutors love in a strange way. Just as the one who is persecuted loves his persecutors... We are too small and powerless to be divided. Reconciliation, in essence, means transformation. This day reminds me of the day when we were all together once - under one sky and flag... Of all the divisions, the worst are the artificial ones. After all, we live in a real, not an artificial world. And we need the truth, that is, true, not artificial reconciliation," he said.

Vuković said that "if we don't reconcile, then we won't leave the house."

"If it weren't for July 13, 1878, there wouldn't be this July 13 that we celebrate. That's why we should also remember our father," he pointed out.

Vuković then read an excerpt from the award-winning book "Homeless House" which reads: "I always believed that God would somehow help me in a different way. Either banish me or hang me."

The cultural and artistic part of the ceremony was opened by the Serbian singing group "Jedinstvo" from Kotor.