Minister Vujović's Greeting on July 13 - Statehood Day

July comes as the culmination of our national, historical, and libertarian heritage and as a lofty reminder of Montenegro's lasting belonging to the true side of history. This significant date unites two magnificent chapters of our past: the international recognition of Montenegrin statehood in 1878 and one of the first and most massive uprisings against fascism in occupied Europe. July 13 witnesses the unwavering determination of the Montenegrin people and all citizens of Montenegro to defend freedom, dignity, and the right to their own future, even when the cost was the highest. Therefore, anti-fascism is not only part of our historical memory but also a permanent moral and state-building foundation of modern Montenegro. On this foundation rest the values of civil society, equality, solidarity, mutual respect, and resistance to all forms of hatred, discrimination, violence, and division. It is our duty to preserve these values from forgetfulness, relativization, and rewriting of historical truth, and to pass them on as the most precious heritage to future generations. Culture and media have a special responsibility in preserving collective memory and promoting anti-fascist tradition. By nurturing a culture of remembrance, dialogue, and appreciation of diversity, we strengthen Montenegro as a democratic, civic, multicultural, and European country. Our proudest heritage and its solid foundations were created by generations before us. It is up to us to preserve, further empower, and honorably incorporate it into the European family of nations, to which Montenegro belongs through its historical choices, values, and future. Happy Statehood Day of Montenegro!