“Cooperation between the state of Montenegro and the diaspora, especially those living in the region, is extremely important and needs to be strengthened. History, culture and religion offer a considerable space for cooperation, but the field of education, cooperation through science, sports and other fields should not be neglected. As a historical and cultural center of Montenegro, the municipality of Cetinje will try to contribute to strengthening ties with the diaspora, as part of its competencies and capabilities,” said Mayor of Cetinje Aleksandar Kascelan.
Kascelan stated that in a meeting with the president of the association “Montenegrin Community in Albania” (ZCGA), Marinko Culafic during the latter’s visit to the municipality of Cetinje in Montenegro on January 28. Kascelan said local self-government supports the intention of the Montenegrin Community Association and Matica Crnogorska to celebrate May 21, Montenegro’s Independence Day, in Elbasan.
For his part Culafic noted the efforts of the Montenegrin community in Albania to gather Montenegrins and through various activities to contribute to the preservation of Montenegrin identity, the promotion of culture and history, but also to the strengthening of cooperation with both the homeland and the country where they live.
“We have the support of the Albanian national authorities, also Matica Crnogorska is an extremely important support for us, but the support of Montenegro can and should be more important. The Montenegrin community in Albania can be a link between two countries and two peoples and we try to make such a contribution through our activities,” said Culafic.
The participants in the meeting also discussed the challenging situation in the region and that it is important to maintain good neighborly relations, to promote the traditions of all national minorities in the regional countries in line with European values and the commitment of all countries in the region to the European Union.
At the end of the visit, the president of the association “Montenegrin community in Albania” and the representative of Matica Crnogorska, Blagoje Zlatjcanin laid a wreath at the monument to Lovcenska Vila, erected in memory of Montenegrin patriots who set out to help defend Montenegro in World War I and who died tragically in Medova. / Argumentum.al
