Montenegro celebrates its national holiday today – Day of Statehood, Montenegrin media and BTA reported.
On July 13, 1878, during the Berlin Congress (June 13-July 13, 1878), Montenegro received international recognition as an independent state, recalls the Montenegrin Radio and Television (RTCG), adding that on the same date in 1941 Montenegrins have risen up against the fascist occupier.
The President of Montenegro, Jakov Milatović, stated today at the ceremonial reception on the occasion of the holiday in Cetinje that July 13 is a symbol of statehood.
"For Montenegro, this date is not a holiday, but the day when we put the highest values of freedom, honor and dignity into the foundations of our society," Milatović said.
The country restored its independence through a referendum on May 21, 2006. In the referendum, which was to decide whether Montenegro should secede as an independent state from the then union with Serbia, 419,240 citizens voted, or 86.5 percent of the total number of voters.
The country's independence was supported by 230,661 people or 55.5 percent of Montenegrin citizens participated in the referendum, while 185,002 or 44.5 percent voted to remain in a common state with Serbia.