Inflicting damage on Montenegro’s official symbols might have come as a surprise if identical things hadn’t happened in Belgrade as well. But the fact that vandalism doesn’t surprise us, doesn’t mean we don’t know how to react. On the contrary, said Mr Aleksandar Bogdanović, Minister of Culture.
Full implementation of the Law on State Symbols and Statehood Day guarantees even stricter sanctions against those who fail to respect the country they live in.
“We absolutely don’t care about anybody’s orientation, we understand all forms of manifesting dissatisfaction. Unlike messages coming from the neighborhood – we don’t want to expel those who don’t think like we do. Absolute freedom of manifesting different view is Montenegro’s most important value. However, protest is one thing, vandalism and lack of reason to respect elementary civilization norms is completely the other”, Minister said.
For that reason, stricter penalties and tougher approach might not be a solution but everybody will think carefully before trying to manifest disrespect for the country.
“Whoever thinks will have an impact on Montenegro’s identity is wrong. We’ve already seen such barbarian signatures. Montenegro will endure and its identity will be strengthened”, Mr Bogdanović said.
