PM Marković receives Mostar Peace Connection Award: I dedicate this award to citizens of Mostar and BiH as well as to every citizen of region who wants to look into future

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Prime Minister Duško Marković was awarded with the traditional international award Mostar Peace Connection in Mostar on Monday evening, which was also awarded to Prime Minister of Greece Alexis Tsipras, posthumously to the first President of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia Antonio Cassese, Judge of this Court Carmel Agius, journalist Brent Sadler, Deputy in the German Bundestag Josip Juratović and Founder of IFIMES Zijad Bećirović.

Prime Ministers Marković and Tsipras signed the Mostar Peace Charter.

Addressing the officials at the event Mostar does not forget its friends, the Prime Minister of Montenegro said that he is proud that the first recipient of the award was President of Montenegro Milo Đukanović, alongside Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina Denis Zvizdić.

This is a great honour and recognition for Montenegro because the liberal tradition and the nurture of tolerance and coexistence were always the guarantor of our survival, as well as a guarantee for the future of our citizens, Prime Minister Marković said.

PM Marković assessed that the Western Balkans has moved a long way since the 1990s and that the whole region is on the European path.

Standing next to the Old Bridge in this beautiful city, whose fourteenth reconstruction anniversary is celebrated today, I cannot avoid the mixed feelings - the burden of the past and the awareness of human suffering and endurance, and at the same time the hope and faith in the future. We have gone a long way in the Western Balkans and the progress is unquestionable compared to the day 25 years ago, when almost five centuries old bridge was demolished in a single moment. Now it is again and first of all a symbol of renewal and unification. According to the famous Nelson Mandela, who was one of the laureates of the Mostar Peace Prize: "Courageous people do not fear forgiving, for the sake of peace". And that's the only way forward. That is why we are especially pleased that Prime Ministers Tsipras and Zaev are here tonight with us. The most beautiful news in the region has come from them lately and thank them for giving us new optimism, having the vision and courage to make difficult decisions for the good of their people, as well as for all of us. The Western Balkans is a place in Europe, not only geographically but also in terms of civilization and worthiness. It is time to make this path irreversible, and we are getting closer to that every day, thanks to our own efforts and our European and Euro-Atlantic partners, the Prime Minister of Montenegro said.

Prime Minister Duško Marković concluded his speech expressing Montenegro's gratitude to its neighbours for their support, saying that our country, as it has done so far, will always provide support honestly and whenever it is necessary.

I want to dedicate this award primarily to the citizens of Mostar and Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as to every citizen of our region who wants to look into the future. As Ćamil Sijarić said: "When a man returns to the past, there is darkness". Bearing in mind past experience, we can only be aware that there is no good from returning to the past, and that we can only advance by nurturing European civilization values and respecting our diversity and culture, Prime Minister of Montenegro Duško Marković said in Mostar.

Address by PM Duško Marković in Montenegrin

PUBLIC RELATIONS SERVICE OF THE GOVERNMENT OF MONTENEGRO

PHOTO: PM Duško Marković attends event Mostar does not forgets its friends and Peace Charter Award ceremony

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/zJv_P75lmas