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Declaration of Good Will about Montenegro
The First Congress of the Montenegrin Diaspora
By freely expressed will of the delegates present at the session on October
10 1999, the Congress adopted:
Declaration of Good Will about Montenegro
Strongly inspired by the feeling of connection, love and good intentions
towards our homeland, Montenegro, we, the participants of the Congress,
people of different nationalities and religions but with the same feelings
towards the state of Montenegro
Starting from a natural and historic right of Montenegro, one of the oldest
states in the Balkans, open-mindedly considering the current situation and
the need for a guarantee of a lasting peace, stability and prosperity in
South eastern Europe, as well as considering the inherent right of the
people of Montenegro to self-determination and independent decision making
about their crucial internal matters and the relations with the neighboring
and other countries.
Refusing to let our country, Montenegro, with its 10-century-long statehood,
stay the only country without its own statehood and international
recognition after the break up of Socialist Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia
Strongly supporting the efforts of all democratic forces in Montenegro to
find a solution to the current crisis, for a permanent protection of
Montenegro and its citizens from attempts to be sacrificed and kept as
hostages of an outdated, xenophobic, nationalistic and imperialistic
politics of Serbia, the politics which directly leads towards the extinction
of the Montenegrin state, nation and church and every other form of
uniqueness, the politics which is alienating Montenegro from any European
and
Atlantic integration and from a possibility of a dignified existence of a
human being
We, the immigrants from Montenegro: Montenegrins, Serbs, Muslims, Albanians
and Croats are unanimous in these demands:
1.
That the Parliament of Montenegro holds a referendum on the issue of
independence of Montenegro. This is necessary to protect national interests
of Montenegro and create overall progress and development, according to the
given right of the citizens. This is necessary for Montenegro to regain its
international recognition and integration in European and North Atlantic
economic, political, defense, cultural, athletic and humanitarian
organizations.
2.
That Montenegro preserves and improves its historical achievements of
friendly and harmonious relationships for the coexistence of different
ethnic and religious groups, that it secures full individual and collective
freedom of its citizens and in such way responds to any and all unacceptable
attempts of dividing Montenegro on a tribal, religious, ethnic or regional
basis, which would tear apart the territory and the vital tissue of the
country.
3.
That the Montenegrin government stop with rejecting and discriminating
Montenegrin Orthodox Church and its members.
We also support the founding of the Montenegrin Orthodox Church Diocese in
America
4.
That Montenegro with its policy of openness and networking with the world
creates conditions for its full cooperation with its Diaspora in all
domains: economic, political, cultural, athletic and media related. In order
to unify the creative potential of the cradle and the Diaspora and to
establish better cooperation and understanding, we suggest that the next
Congress of the Montenegrin Diaspora be held in year 2000, in Cetinje, the
capital of Montenegro, and that President Djukanovic be the chair of the
organizational committee.
The First Congress of Montenegrin Diaspora: Resolutions
I
Montenegro should become a free, sovereign, democratic, multinational and
internationally recognized country and a member of the United Nations.
II
The Congress suggests that the groups both inside and outside of Montenegro,
the government, political parties, NGOs and other organizations unite on the
issue of resolving the statehood and the
legal status of Montenegro, all with the goal of achieving independence for
Montenegro.
III
The Congress demands from the Montenegrin Parliament to invalidate the
illegitimate decisions of the so-called "Grand National Assembly of
Podgorica" from 1918.
IV
The Congress appeals to the Montenegrin government to follow and respect the
decisions of the Session of the Montenegrin Parliament from December 23,
1991, by which Montenegro's status as an
independent and sovereign state was guaranteed.
V
The congress demands from the current government that every diplomatic
representative of Montenegro has demonstrated a pro-Montenegrin disposition.
Career-hungry and grafted Montenegrins
can never represent Montenegro appropriately nor can they establish good
ties and rapport with the Diaspora.
VI
The Congress demands that the Montenegrin Orthodox Church be allowed to
register as a religious organization and that all of its sacred places and
material property be returned to the Church.
VII
The Congress demands from the Montenegrin Parliament to invalidate the
decision of Regent Aleksandar from year 1920 by which the Montenegrin
Orthodox Church was abolished forcefully and against the canon.
VIII
The Congress most strongly protests the political and financial support of
the Serbian Orthodox Church from the current Montenegrin government.
IX
The Congress suggests that the Montenegrin government resolve the legal
status of the heirs of the dynasty Petrovic-Njegos. We also ask that in the
spirit of the Montenegrin state's tradition and our language, Nikola
Petrovic Njegos II be given the title of Prince.
X
The Congress demands that the Montenegrin language becomes the official
language in Montenegro and that as such be instituted in the constitution,
schools, institutions and media.
XI
The Congress suggests to the Montenegrin government and cultural
institutions to organize a world exhibition, dedicated to the
thousand-year-old Montenegrin history and culture. This exhibit would be
held in cultural and political centers of the world such as Paris, Rome,
Moscow, New York, and Washington D.C. The intention of the exhibit would be
to culturally and politically resonate the
achievements and history of Montenegro. The Diaspora is willing to
contribute to this exhibit with all its means.
XII
The Congress supports the continuation of the Cetinje Biannual Festival of
Arts and promises a contribution to the affirmation of this significant
cultural event.
XIII
Montenegrin societies and organizations in the world will work on developing
amicable relationships between the people of Montenegro and the country in
which these groups are active.
XIV
The Congress protests and dissociates itself from the use of the adjective
"Montenegrin" by the groups which do not recognize the Montenegrin nation,
church and the state and work against the
interests of Montenegro.
XV
The Congress suggests that the Cradle of Montenegro (Matica Crnogorska) be
renewed in a form of an NGO which would have its monthly publication, a part
of which would be published in English.
XVI
The Congress constructively criticizes the Montenegrin Government for its
insufficient cooperation with the Montenegrin Diaspora and its societies.
XVII
The Congress also forms a collective North American body to which the
following members are elected:
Blazo Sredanovic, president and as vice presidents:
Ivo Djukanovic, The Montenegrin Association of America,
Vesna Radunovic, Montenegrin Independent Cultural Center of New York,
Beco Cubic, "Rumija" Cultural Center, Chicago
Branko Aleksic, Montenegrin Cultural Society "Crna Gora," Toronto.
XVIII
The Congress also decided to form a delegation of Montenegrin Diaspora in
the United States which will request a meeting with the three American
congressmen who recently raised the issue of
Montenegrin independence. This delegation would also deliver a petition with
our demands to President Clinton.
XIX
The Congress formed a coordinating committee of the Montenegrin World
Congress whose goal would be to link all Montenegrin associations in the
world and initiate the foundation of new association in the countries where
Montenegrins live.
The committee
members are:
Blazo Sredanovic,
Vojo Rasovic,
Fado Redzovic,
Radosav Krsikapa,
Savic Rasovic, from North America,
Mihailo Mandic from Australia,
Jovan Radonjic from Croatia and Dr.
Nebojsa Popovic from Germany.
XX
The Congress adopted the suggestion that the Second Congress of the
Montenegrin Diaspora and the Montenegrin Gatherings be held in Montenegrin
capital of Cetinje and that the President of Montenegro be the chair of the
organizing committee.
For the First Congress of the Montenegrin Diaspora:
Blazo Sredanovic, The Montenegrin Association of America
Vesna Radunovic, Montenegrin Independent Cultural Center of New York
Branko Aleksic, Montenegrin Cultural Society "Crna Gora" of Toronto
Fado Redzovic, "Rumija" Cultural Center from Chicago
Mihailo Mandic, Montenegrin Ethnic Association of Australia
Jovan Radonjic, Montenegrin National Association of Croatia.
October 10th, 1999.
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