Independence Day Celebration
On July 2, 2009, U.S. Ambassador to Montenegro, Roderick W. Moore, hosted a reception to celebrate the 233nd anniversary of the Independence of the United States. Ambassador Moore addressed over 1,000 guests, highlighting a long lasting friendship and partnership between the two states and their citizens and announced that the Consular Section of the Embassy will begin processing visa applications for the Montenegrin public on July 21.
The guests also enjoyed a musical repertoire that featured the U.S. Naval Forces Europe Band, the Women’s Choir of the Music School "Vasa Pavic" from Podgorica and the Montenegrin pop star Sergej Cetkovic. The event concluded with a magnificent fireworks display.
A transcript of Ambassador Moore's remarks appears below in English and Montenegrin.
Dear Friends,
Happy Independence Day!
I am honored that you have accepted our invitation to celebrate with us this 233red anniversary of America's independence here in beautiful Mareza.
I extend a special welcome to the companies who have sponsored this event. Without their generosity, we could not be celebrating in such style.
On this screen behind me are the flags of our two countries – two proud, independent, and democratic nations. But this emblem is a potent symbol for another reason -- the crossed staffs of the two flags represent the vibrant partnership between the U.S. and Montenegro.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I am pleased to tell you that this partnership is stronger today than it has ever been in history. And I believe that the solid foundation on which it rests will ensure that this partnership will prosper in the years to come.
The Past
We can be proud of this partnership, but not so audacious as to take full credit for this success. This is a relationship that has deep roots, nurtured by many courageous and visionary individuals who preceded us.
The seeds of our partnership were planted by statesmen, such as President Theodore Roosevelt and Prince Nikola, who led our two countries when diplomatic relations were established in 1905. They were planted by adventurous diplomats, such as John B. Jackson, the first American Minister accredited to Montenegro, and General Anto Gvozdenovic, the first Montenegrin envoy in the U.S.
Our partnership took firm root in the rocky terrain of places like Montana and Nevada and Colorado where waves of enterprising Montenegrin immigrants built lives and fortunes. These roots were irrigated by brave sons of Montenegro -- people like James Mestrovich, Vuk Kustudija, and Vukasin Markovic, men who fought for freedom with the armed forces of America, their adopted country, and who shed their blood on European battlegrounds in the First World War.
Our partnership with Montenegro did not wither as Yugoslavia emerged. In the Second World War, Americans and Montenegrins again stood shoulder-to-shoulder to battle tyranny. And again, our bonds were fortified by the deeds of individual heroes, such as those many Montenegrins who shielded American airmen from capture by enemy forces at great risk to themselves.
And in April this year, we celebrated with you the solidarity between our peoples that grew out of the ruins wrought by the catastrophic earthquake of 1979. With a U.S. frigate in Bar, we commemorated the assistance 30 years ago of the U.S. armed forces to the people of Montenegro. We paid tribute to those individuals – such as Ambassador Lawrence Eagleburger, Shirly Panitza, and many others – who helped Montenegro to re-build.
And even in the final years of Yugoslavia, and during the dark period of Balkan conflicts, our partnership endured. Thanks to people like Hilda Zakrajisek and Slavica Rosic, both of whom are here tonight, Montenegrin students studied in American schools, Montenegrins and Americans shared their cultural achievements, and thousands of Montenegrins discovered America in the American Center in Podgorica.
The Present
Thanks to Hilda and Slavica and countless others, our partnership is still blossoming here in the present.
Exactly one year ago today, I stood here with many of you and watched the historic raising of this flag for the first time over this first American residence in Montenegro. And in the 365 days that have passed, I have watched more history being made as our relationship has grown.
I watched in Kotor as one of America’s most senior diplomatic officials, the Deputy Secretary of State, praised Montenegro for your country’s role in bringing stability to the Balkans. In Cetinje, I watched three American Senators praise Montenegro’s efforts to strengthen our bilateral partnership. Here in Podgorica, I witnessed the opening of the American Corner in Pljevlja, the founding of the first-ever American Chamber of Commerce in Montenegro and the first-ever U.S-Montenegro Business Council.
Over and over again, my colleagues and I have learned firsthand how powerful human connections are in bringing our countries together. We have been overwhelmed by the outpourings of friendship from citizens in the four corners of Montenegro – from the villages of Bukovica to the markets of Gusinje, from the old towns of Ulcinj and Bar to the basketball courts of Herceg-Novi, from the grape-growing valleys of Crmnica to the rugged hills of the North.
As I look out over this field her tonight, I see many hundreds of people -- government officials, diplomats, politicians, journalists, students, NGO leaders, businesspersons, and many more -- who are working every day to build stronger links between our two countries. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you for devotion, energy, and vision.
The Future
I do not possess the power to see into the future, but of one thing I am certain. What has grown steadily in the past, and what is growing mightily in the present, will surely continue to grow heartily in years to come.
In fact, all of us here tonight are helping make this a certainty. We are building lasting business links, establishing enduring cultural connections, and establishing lifelong friendships.
For our part, our Embassy is committed – literally -- to laying the foundations for the future. We will be breaking ground later this year on projects to expand our Embassy. And in April, we signed an agreement to purchase additional land that will allow us to build an even larger diplomatic mission in coming years.
But that is not all. We are committed to ensuring that the people-to-people dimension of our relationship reaches new levels. And we have been listening to you -- the farmer from Savnik, the shepherd from Tuzi, the florist from Podgorica, the taxi driver from Tivat. You, the people of Montenegro, have told us that you want an easier way to apply for American visas.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I have the enormous pleasure to announce to you all here tonight that the United States will, for the first time in history, begin issuing visas to the citizens of Montenegro at the American Embassy in Podgorica on July 21st.
In fact, I have the additional pleasure of announcing that the U.S. Embassy has already issued its first visa. And it is only fitting, I believe, that the recipient of the first American visa in Montenegro is also your country’s first citizen, a man whose profound contributions to U.S.-Montenegrin ties span his decades of public service in this country.
It is now my honor to invite that citizen to the stage to receive his visa. Ladies and Gentlemen, please join me in applauding President Filip Vujanovic.
I have one more surprise for you this evening. In fact, we have issued a few more visas as well. As we look to the future of our relationship, we believe it is fitting to deliver the first visas to representatives of Montenegro’s younger generation -- students who will be studying in the U.S. and gaining the knowledge and experience that will ensure them central roles in the relations between our two countries in the decades to come. Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in applauding the students of the Forecast program, who will be studying at American universities in the forthcoming academic year.
They are:
Pečurica Jelena
Žmukić Milena
Nikolić Luka
Šćepanović Maša
Popović Miloš
Vukanović Nikola
Nikić Andrijana
Tatar Jovan