With the ceremonial reception, the Embassy of Montenegro in Serbia celebrated the Statehood Day of this country – the 13th July.
Montenegro received international recognition at the Berlin Congress on the 13th of July, 1878. The same conference confirmed the independence of both Serbia and Romania, thus formalizing the independence of the three Balkan states from the then Ottoman Empire.
H.E. Branislav Mićunović, the outgoing ambassador of Montenegro to Serbia, welcomed guests at Belgrade’s Hyatt Hotel.
In his welcoming speech, Ambassador Branislav Mićunović reminded of the significance of the 13th of July in the Montenegrin tradition.
He pointed out that “we celebrate Statehood Day in friendly Belgrade, Serbia,” and with the shared freedom that has resulted in close cooperation between the two countries.
He added that both countries expressed readiness for a shared future and a mutual interest, especially related to a common and prosperous Balkans and membership in the European Union.
Representatives of political, public, diplomatic and cultural life were present, including Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Trade, Tourism and Telecommunications Rasim Ljajic, Minister of Labor, Employment, Veterans and Social Affairs Zoran Djordjevic, Head of the OSCE Mission to Serbia Andrea Oricio , Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Sam Fabrizi, US Ambassador Kyle Scott, Ambassador of Italy Carlo Lo Cascio, Head of the Council of Europe Mission to Serbia Tobias Flessenkemper, church dignitaries and many others.