Vice President Koprivica on the 230th Anniversary of the Montenegrin and Mountain Stave

230 years ago, Montenegro took a significant step on its historical path of statehood development by adopting the Montenegrin and Mountain Stave, a legal act that expressed awareness of the need for unity, responsibility, and coordinated action in defending freedom. As a constitutional act that established both political and defensive communities, the Stave of Saint represents one of the foundations of Montenegrin legal tradition and an important expression of the effort to prioritize the common interest and maintain order above tribal and local interests. The message of the Stave remains powerful today: that a community can only be free and strong if its members accept responsibility towards each other, the state, and the common good. Today, as we mark the 230th anniversary of the adoption of the Montenegrin and Mountain Stave, we do so primarily with awareness of our responsibility to tradition, but also with the understanding that one of our most important priorities as a country and society is reforming the legal system, implementing constitutional changes, and modernizing legislation to achieve full rule of law and accelerate European integration. 230 years later, our response to the legacy of the Stave should not only be in commemorating it but primarily in understanding and responsibly passing it on in the modern age. Therefore, the 230th anniversary is an opportunity to proudly reflect on our legal and statehood tradition, and to reaffirm our commitment to reforms through strong institutions, the rule of law, modernization of the legal system, mutual respect, and dedication to the common good.