Painting "Dialogue in the Night" by Igor Rakčević on Council of Europe's wall

Strasbourg, France (27 June 2017) -- Prime Minister Duško Marković handed over to the Council of Europe the painting "Dialogue in the Night" by the Montenegrin painter Igor Rakčević as a gift on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of Montenegro's membership. On that occasion, the Prime Minister spoke about the dialogue as the major theme of the painting.

"In the period after the restoration of independence, Montenegro has decidedly rebuilt its institutions, thus paving the way to its European future. Montenegro has changed over the past ten years. In addition to institution building, we have built awareness of standards, not just to implement them, but to understand them and accept them as our own. Therefore, we owe this institution gratitude. Montenegro has transformed itself in line with contemporary legal and regulatory standards, at the same time preserving its characteristic features. The theme of the painting that we have chosen as the gift is the paradigm of the values that make us exemplary Montenegrins, exemplary citizens and exemplary Europeans. This is the message that all well-meaning people can and should sent to their associates, their compatriots, but also to those who think differently. This is the dialogue," said the Prime Minister of Montenegro.

The ceremony was, among others, attended by the Council of Europe's General-Secretary Torbjorn Jagland, Czech Foreign Minister Lubomir Zaoralek, whose country is currently chairing the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers and representatives of Montenegro in the Parliamentary Assembly.

PUBLIC RELATIONS SERVICE OF THE GOVERNMENT OF MONTENEGRO