Beyond Institutions, Through People
Teachers, doctors, firefighters, scientists and artists embody the values of freedom and responsibility celebrated on Statehood Day
From the highest levels of government to the classroom, hospital, fire station, laboratory and film set, this year’s commemoration of 13 July in Montenegro placed the spotlight on people whose work gives substance to the concepts of statehood, freedom and responsibility. The formal reception hosted by President Jakov Milatović and the presentation of the Thirteenth of July Awards at the Parliament of Montenegro each conveyed, in their own way, the same message: a state is built not only through institutions and declarations, but through people who devote their knowledge, talent and professional integrity at the service of society.
This year, Statehood Day in Montenegro was marked in an atmosphere that sought to bring to the fore what often remains outside the political spotlight – people and their achievements. The presidential reception held to celebrate13 July, in a spirit of gratitude to those who contribute to the community every day, brought together representatives from almost every segment of society. At the same time, at the Parliament of Montenegro, honours were presented to individuals whose contributions have been recognised in the fields of science, literature and film. The two events, different in character and in the institutions organising them, were united by the same idea: Montenegro affirms its statehood not only through dates in its history, but also through the contemporary achievements of its citizens.
THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE THE STATE A REALITY
The ceremonial reception hosted by the President of Montenegro, Jakov Milatović, was dedicated precisely to such people. Among the guests were judges and prosecutors, deans, representatives of municipalities, directors of schools and hospitals, representatives of civil society, culture and the media, businesspeople, representatives of veterans’ associations and members of the Montenegrin diaspora. Yet there was particular symbolism in the presence of those whose work is most often taken for granted until the moment comes when it becomes crucial. Firefighters, police officers, scouts, volunteers, nurses and medical technicians, primary school teachers, secondary school teachers and university professors, top-performing students, decorated citizens and celebrated athletes – people whose everyday work creates a sense of security, knowledge, solidarity and belonging. In a way, they presented a picture of Montenegro beyond its political institutions. People who heal, educate, protect, help and create, and who stand by their community when they are needed most, embody a kind of patriotism that requires no grand words. Their contribution is measured in achievements, lives saved, generations educated, medals won, successful projects and hours spent in the service of others. The Office of the President stated that the reception was an expression of respect for all those who affirm statehood and freedom every day – through honest work, care for others and responsibility towards the community. That message also contains a broader definition of statehood: a state is not only what its institutions represent, but also what its citizens do for others every day.
13 JULY AS A MEETING OF PAST AND PRESENT
The Thirteenth of July holds multiple meanings in Montenegrin history. The date that links the 1941 uprising and Montenegro’s international recognition in 1878 is today also an opportunity to ask what statehood means in contemporary society. If freedom and international legal personality once had to be fought for, today the challenge is to translate that freedom into the quality of institutions, education, healthcare, science, culture and the economy. It is precisely for this reason that this year’s commemoration carries particular symbolic weight. Representatives of the state and society came together in one place – those who make decisions and those who put them into practice every day. The reception was attended by President of the Parliament of Montenegro Andrija Mandić, Prime Minister Milojko Spajić, members of the Government and MPs, representatives of the diplomatic corps, religious dignitaries, and representatives of trade unions and state institutions. A particular international dimension was added by President of the Republic of Slovenia Nataša Pirc Musar, President of the Republic of Croatia Zoran Milanović and European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos. Their presence conveyed a message about Montenegro’s close ties with its neighbours and European partners, as well as the country’s European perspective. It is precisely this combination – domestic responsibility and international openness – that constitutes one of the key challenges facing contemporary Montenegro.
WHEN KNOWLEDGE BECOMES A STATE VALUE
If the presidential reception was dedicated to people who serve their community every day, the presentation of the Thirteenth of July Awards was a tribute to knowledge, creativity and achievements of wider significance to society. This year’s laureates received their Thirteenth of July Awards at the Parliament of Montenegro. The honours went to representatives of different fields – literary theory, botany and film. This once again affirmed that state honours are not confined solely to achievements accomplished within the country’s borders.
THIRTEENTH OF JULY AWARDS 2025
• Prof. Dr Sonja Tomović-Šundić For the work The Literary Anthropology of Danilo Kiš
A full professor at the University of Montenegro, she received the award for her scholarly and literary-theoretical work dedicated to the oeuvre of Danilo Kiš. The award recognises her contribution to the study of literature and the humanities.
• Dr Snežana Dragićević and Dr Snežana Vuksanović For scientific achievements and contributions to the field of botany in 2025
Both Doctors of Biological Sciences, they received the award for their achievements and contribution to the advancement of botanical research, particularly highlighting the value of scientific work in studying and protecting Montenegro’s natural wealth.
• Prof. Dr Nikola Vukčević For the international promotion of Montenegro and the reception of the film The Tower of Strength in 2025
A film director and university professor, he received the award for his contribution to promoting Montenegro through cinema and for the international reception of the film The Tower of Strength.
• The Thirteenth of July Award is one of Montenegro’s most prestigious state honours, recognising outstanding results and achievements of particular significance to the country and society.
They also recognise people whose work represents Montenegro in a broader regional and international context. Professor Sonja Tomović-Šundić, a full professor at the University of Montenegro, received the award for her work The Literary Anthropology of Danilo Kiš. Her book opens up possibilities for a deeper understanding of the literary oeuvre of Danilo Kiš, one of the most significant authors from this region, by connecting literature with anthropological and broader humanities-related questions. Dr Snežana Dragićević and Dr Snežana Vuksanović, both Doctors of Biological Sciences, were recognised for their scientific achievements and contribution to the field of botany in 2025. Their recognition also serves as a reminder that scientific research, although often removed from day-to-day politics and public spectacle, represents one of the most important investments any modern society can make. The third laureate was Professor Nikola Vukčević, a film director and university professor, who received the award for the international promotion of Montenegro and the reception of his film The Tower of Strength (Obraz) in 2025. Through the medium of film, his award takes on an additional dimension – because culture represents one of the most effective ways for a small country to tell the world about itself.
“A DECISION UNAFFECTED BY POLITICS”
The awards were presented by President of the Parliament of Montenegro Andrija Mandić, who congratulated the laureates and thanked the members of the expert jury. Mandić particularly emphasised the independence of the jury’s work, noting that the decision had been reached without political influence. “We have outstanding recipients of the Thirteenth of July Award, as decided by our jury, which this year, as in all previous years, reached its decision in accordance with its own convictions, unaffected by any political considerations,” Mandić said.
The President of the Parliament stated that he was proud that Montenegro has people and achievements with which it can present itself to Europe. This message takes on particular significance when one considers the range of this year’s laureates. Literature, the natural sciences and film may at first glance appear to have little in common, but it is precisely their diversity that speaks to the breadth of society’s potential. A country that seeks to be recognised in Europe cannot build its international standing through diplomatic messages alone. It also builds that standing through its universities, scientific research, art, cultural production and people whose achievements enhance the country’s reputation.
FROM FIREFIGHTER TO SCIENTIST – THE SAME IDEA OF RESPONSIBILITY
In this sense, the two events marking 13 July this year can be seen as two sides of the same story. On one side are people who perform jobs every day on which the lives and quality of life of citizens directly depend. On the other are those whose work pushes the boundaries of knowledge and culture and whose achievements remain an enduring part of the nation’s creative legacy.
A firefighter who enters a burning building, a nurse who stays by a patient’s side, a teacher who passes on knowledge to generations, a scientist who spends years researching a plant species, a professor who studies literature, or a director who brings a Montenegrin story to an international audience – in different ways, they are all doing the same thing: giving substance to the state.
That is why this year’s commemoration of 13 July was not merely a ceremonial remembrance of history. It also raised a question about the present – what kind of Montenegro are we building today, and what do we want to be recognised for? The answer offered by this year’s reception and the Thirteenth of July Awards is quite clear. Montenegro is not merely a state of institutions. It is a state of its teachers, doctors, police officers, firefighters, athletes, scientists, artists, professors, students, businesspeople and all those who, through their work, take responsibility for their community. If statehood was once defended through armed and political struggle, today it is affirmed through the quality of the society we are creating.
And 13 July, perhaps more than any other date, is an opportunity to remind ourselves that between the historical idea of the state and its life in the present day, there is one crucial bridge – the individual.
The individual who works.
The individual who knows.
The individual who creates.
The individual who helps.
It was precisely such people who were at the forefront of this year’s 13 July commemorations. Not as mere decoration for a national holiday, but as its most important meaning.