Ivanović in Brussels: Statehood is preserved through responsibility towards the future

Deputy Prime Minister for Foreign and European Affairs Filip Ivanović addressed guests at the reception marking Montenegro's Statehood Day and the 20th anniversary of the restoration of Montenegro's independence, hosted in Brussels by the Embassy of Montenegro to the Kingdom of Belgium and the Mission of Montenegro to the European Union.

In his address, Deputy Prime Minister Ivanović said that commemorating Statehood Day and two decades since the restoration of independence was an opportunity to reaffirm that Montenegro is a country shaping its own future for the benefit of all its citizens, founded on the principles of freedom, the rule of law, and equality.

Tonight, here in Brussels, as we mark Statehood Day and the twentieth anniversary of the restoration of Montenegro's independence, we reaffirm our choice that Montenegro is a country shaping its own future for the benefit of all its citizens, founded on freedom, the rule of law, and equality, Ivanović said.

Reflecting on the significance of 13 July, he stressed that the date serves as a lasting reminder of the historical continuity of Montenegrin statehood and the country's struggle for freedom.

The Thirteenth of July is not only a reminder of Montenegro's international recognition in 1878, nor solely a remembrance of the 1941 uprising that affirmed freedom has no price. It is a date that obliges us to leave every generation a country worthy of those who built it, Ivanović said.

He noted that throughout its history, Montenegro has demonstrated that its strength lies in the endurance of its ideals of freedom and statehood.

Throughout its history, Montenegro has repeatedly proven that its strength does not lie in the size of its territory, but in the resilience of its ideals. I therefore believe that this generation will also be remembered for its decision to transform our country's European future into a lasting legacy for all the citizens of Montenegro, the Deputy Prime Minister said.

Ivanović devoted a special part of his address to the Montenegrin diaspora, describing it as an important pillar of modern Montenegro and a strong link connecting the country with Europe and the wider world.

The Montenegrin diaspora is not only a guardian of our identity, but also a bridge connecting Montenegro with Europe and the world, Ivanović said.

Concluding his address, the Deputy Prime Minister extended his congratulations to the citizens of Montenegro on Statehood Day and the 20th anniversary of the restoration of Montenegro's independence.

Happy Statehood Day and the twentieth anniversary of the restoration of Montenegro's independence, he concluded.