Montenegro this week is marking the 20th anniversary of its independence with concerts and festive activities taking place in the capital, Podgorica, and other cities across the country.
On May 21, 2006, Montenegrin citizens voted in a historic referendum on the future of the state, with 55.5% choosing independence after a long period of political transition that followed the regional wars and the 1999 NATO bombing campaign linked to the conflict in Kosovo.
The separation from the joint state with Serbia was considered profound and divisive, given the close historical, religious, and cultural ties between the two countries, as well as the fact that a large portion of Montenegro’s population identifies as Serbian.
The independence process was led by former Montenegrin leader Milo Đukanović, who steered the country toward Euro-Atlantic integration and NATO membership.
Montenegro’s current President, Jakov Milatović, stated that full integration into the European Union remains the country’s next major goal.
“Twenty years ago, the citizens of Montenegro took decision-making into their own hands, and this became the foundation of our development. Great progress occurred when the country became part of NATO in 2017. Being part of NATO is extremely important for a small country like Montenegro because NATO guarantees our security and statehood,” Milatović said.
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