The twenty-third International Summer Kotor Carnival was held last night in that city, with the participation of 24 carnival groups from Montenegro and abroad - from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Italy, North Macedonia, Slovenia and Serbia.
During the presentation of the carnival procession, during the performance of the group "Kraljevina Sveta Vrača", an incident occurred due to the police opening the traffic too early. The members of the group eventually presented themselves and performed in front of the main city gates. The organizers announced that it was a misunderstanding, reports Radio Kotor.
The group "Kingdom of the Holy Healer" wore a mask - a model of the Cathedral of St. Tryphon, in front of which there is a swimming pool and sun loungers. In addition, they carried a banner representing a sign from the construction site, which contains a photograph of the cathedral with a swimming pool and which, among other things, reads: "Collective housing facility with underground garage and swimming pool; Expert supervision: Slaven Radunović".
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The President of the Municipality of Kotor, Vladimir Jokić, and the President of the NGO "Fešta" Vasilija Bajrović issued a public apology to the members of that group.
Minister of Spatial Planning, Urbanism and State Property Slaven Radunović said on July 24 that it would be difficult to meet UNESCO's requirements regarding Kotor in half a year in order for the coastal city to remain on the list of world natural and cultural heritage under the patronage of the organization. He suggested, among other things, that the citizens of Boka Kotorska hold a referendum to decide whether they are in favor of Kotor remaining on the list.
The group "Kingdom of the Holy Healer" also highlighted the messages of support they said they had received from artists from the country and the region.
"We turned to some of the most influential people in the Balkans - we contacted the 'Buksovci', Rambo Amadeus, Marcelo, Nikola from Perper, many influential people in the Balkans - to comment on this mockery that Slaven Radunović and people from the Montenegrin political scene wanted to make of Kotor, in connection with Kotor's withdrawal from UNESCO. It is a shame that people want to expel the city from the cultural heritage. I am glad that such intelligent people commented and supported us," said group member Milija Mandić.
"The police found themselves blocking our mask, which is a disaster. Our message is that you cannot destroy something that is ours. We love this city, we mask every year, we take care of it, and you decided to tear it down," he said.
The President of the Municipality of Kotor, Vladimir Jokić, praised the mask of the "Kingdom of the Holy Healer" group.
"Well, we had the misfortune of having some misunderstandings. Their mask must have carried the biggest message for this city tonight."
Jokić said that it was a pleasure for him to participate in the performance in front of the Old Town.
"Carnival serves this purpose, to criticize everything that people think needs to be criticized in a humorous way. In this way, all the anomalies of our society are shown," he said.
At the head of the procession, led by carnival flags, was the Queen of the Kotor Carnival, Tea Grgurević, followed by the Kotor City Music, the carnival group "Za dispet", "Feština đeca - Kotor", the Association for Dance and Song "Folklorna niza" (North Macedonia), the Day Care Center for the Elderly and Disabled - Kotor, "Mladi feštdjuni" - Kotor, the Cultural Association "Abrašević" - Vrnjačka Banja, "Jana Dance" - Budva, the carnival group "Strumički carnival" with the mask Holland on the palm of your hand, the "Diridonde" group, majorettes from Mostar, "Banfini" - Kotor, OOU "Nikola Vapcarov" - Strumica, the "Berekini" group - Kotor, the carnival group "Rakovičke lude" - Rakovica, the "Lumber" Association - Opatija, "Kangoo Jumps Montenegro" - Budva, "Prijatelji Pančevo" - Pančevo, "Kosmopolitanke" - Kotor, OOU "Maršal Tito" - Strumica, the carnival group the group "Šoštanj" - Slovenia, the group "Kompadoni", "Masquerade Tivat" - Tivat, "Carnival Italia Puglia" - Italy and, finally, the carnival group "Kraljevina Sveta Vrača" - Kotor.
The procession walked along the city's main thoroughfare, and the festivities continued on the Arms Square with performances by the Toć Ensemble and the Cubalcanika group, reports Radio Kotor.
The President of the Federation of European Carnival Cities (FECC), Lars Algel, presented the President of the Municipality, Vladimir Jokić, with a plaque, and the President of the NGO "Fešta", Vasilije Bajrović, with a medal for a successfully organized carnival.
The program was hosted by Karolina Radulović.
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