PM Marković at reception on occasion of Independence Day: Montenegro, 12 years since independence restoration, positions itself as stability factor in Region

PHOTO: PM Duško Marković at reception on occasion of Independence Day

PHOTO GALLERY - Reception and cocktail

Prime Minister Duško Marković said on the occasion of the Independence Day that Montenegro has imposed itself as a factor of stability in the Region over the past twelve years since the restoration of state independence, that NATO membership directly contributes positively to our economy, and that the Government will continue to lead the reform processes, and that it will not allow the meddling with our history nor historical manipulation.

"Montenegro positioned itself as an important factor of stability, promoting dialogue and tolerance, building bridges and creating and environment in which all of us shall be less turned to the past, and look more towards the future. Thus, even as the smallest country of the region, Montenegro has given the greatest contribution to the Balkan stability, aware that there is no progress without stability; there is no joining to the developed European states; there is no economic recovery nor better life for our citizens," the Prime Minister said in his address at the reception which he organised on the occasion of Independence Day.

The Prime Minister reminded that our state and society have been sharing the benefits of NATO membership, which ensured, once and for all, the stability of the state, inviolability of borders and security for our citizens, and therefore, Montenegrin economy is among the fastest growing ones in Europe.

Speaking about the transition, Prime Minister Duško Marković said that the transformation from the least developed republic of the former SFRY to a fully-fledged NATO member and an EU candidate country, in a turbulent environment and ambience, is a tremendous progress.

The Prime Minister said that the Government's goals are security, legal certainty, stability and progress of citizens.

"That is why we shall continue to work in a dedicated way, paying attention to the gist, and not merely bureaucratically. By ensuring professional and sustainable institutions, legal certainty for all without exceptions, chasing the criminals away from our streets, having zero tolerance for corruption, having a regulated media market, media freedom – not as a declaratory goal – but as an adopted democratic value. We should achieve this in a restored political dialogue with all political and other stakeholders in the society. We should not be giving up on our political differences and critical relation towards the quality of societal reforms and their dynamics, but we should have the same relation towards the European perspective of the country. The Government is already today ready for that dialogue. For our Parliament to become a temple of democracy, for civil society to improve our public policy, and for journalists to be free and protected," the Prime Minister said.

PM Marković said that Montenegro shall not allow the attempts at meddling with its history and manipulating the year of 1918 that was tragic for Montenegro.

"Exactly 100 years ago, at the end of the Great War, our state was taken away from us by grave injustice, even though we suffered many casualties on the winning side in that war. Those who wish to present this as a liberation of Montenegro, by glorifying 1918 actually want to see the year of 2006 and our historic referendum decisions revisited. However, they are forgetting that Montenegro and its citizens have learnt in the meantime, once and for all, that those who do not remember their past – will have to repeat it!," the Prime Minister said.

In his address, the Prime Minister assessed that on 21 May 2006, for the first time in its history, Montenegro defended the right to its own home and the right to choose its own future, through wisdom and patience instead of heroic victims, adding that 12 years ago we restored the name of our fatherland to the world map of states and nations. He drew a parallel with 13 July 1878 and 13 July 1941, together with which 21 May forms the historic backbone of our nation.

Address by Prime Minister Duško Marković on the occasion of the Independence Day of Montenegro

PUBLIC RELATIONS SERVICE OF THE GOVERNMENT OF MONTENEGRO

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=716o4191m3U&feature=youtu.be