Constitutional Committee of the Parliament of Montenegro held today the ceremonious meeting on the occasion of eleven years since the adoption of the Constitution, with the address of the President of the Parliament of Montenegro, Mr Ivan Brajović.

- The 2007 Constitution is a symbol and personification of modern European Montenegro. This Constitution is a symbol of our continued commitment towards progress and contemporary democratic societies, legal confirmation of the common life of civic Montenegro, the harmony of diversity and mutual respect. All this was preceded by the key decision in the referendum and the restoration of statehood, as the foundation of the upcoming Montenegrin democracy, renewed state and civic identity, President Brajović pointed out.

He reminded of the fact that the first Montenegrin Constitution, at the beginning of the twentieth century, was an attempt of modernisation and development of Montenegrin state, being on the doorstep of the European family.

- The last one, more than a hundred years later, will become a comprehensive striving towards Euro-Atlantic and European integration. Every constitution that was adopted in Montenegro in the period from 1905 to 2007, was adopted during some crucial periods, the President of the Parliament said.

- This institution is open to any type of discussion, anniversary marking and important dates, and the discussion on topics to be proud of and those less pleasant. Even though the Parliament of Montenegro represents different opinions, visions and ideas, it seems that there are not many of those here that would alter basic postulates on which our society is based upon, and are written in the Constitution and laws, because nothing important that we have achieved as a society and what we intend to achieve, should be implied. That is why the last Constitution is the Constitution of the three millennium long, independent and modern Montenegro, the characteristic of Montenegro that is made of diversity. Nevertheless, characteristic of peacefull Montenegro, picturesque oasis in the midst of the Balkan spontaneity. The country capable of supporting, being a friend and the harbourer to the weak, always, and even today, but using different and civilised means, President Brajović added, congratulating eleven years since the proclamation of the Constitution of Montenegro.

Member of the Parliament of Montenegro and the Chairperson of the Constitutional Committee, Mr Miodrag Miško Vuković, who was a member of the Constitutional Assembly of the Republic of Montenegro in 2006, stated in his address that today we mark eleven years of new constitutionality of Montenegro, that modern and democratic legal act certainly possesses.

- That is legal and political text suitable for the greatest number of parliamentary democracies of modern times. It exists alongside constitutions of civilised states, committed to the concept of civil sovereignty. Using the categorisation known in theory, it belongs to the group of democratic, but also to a large extent to national constitutions. Bearing in mind the revision procedure of our biggest legal and political act, in accordance with its manner of adoption, it is undoubtedly a democratic act, and in accordance with the manner of amending, it is democratic and national Constitution, and it belongs to the group of codified, but to the so-called hard constitutions. What is most important for all of us is that our Constitution is normative, feasible Constitution, therefore not a nominal one, not a goal in itself, Mr Vuković said.

Following the ceremonious meeting, Mr Mladen Vukčević, the Chairperson of the Judicial Council of Montenegro and the President of the Constitutional Court of Montenegro in the period from 2005 to 2007, opened the exhibition "Constitutions of Montenegro" in the Hall of the Parliament. Referring to the exhibition of constitutional texts, he pointed out that modern times offer no condensed image of the development of a state, than the one provided by the history of its highest legal acts.

- For this reason, today's exhibition is not only the accompanying content of marking the anniversary of a single, valid Constitution, but also a reminder of constitutionality as an idea, as the foundation for the dignity of the state and every individual. They are testimonies of our constitutional and legal risings and stalemates, sometimes shadowed by the interweaving of rights, politics and ideology, Mr Vukčević pointed out.

- Everything starts and finishes with the Constitution when it comes to the law - this is a lesson for those who make decisions in this institution, but also for everyone who implement them, President of the Judicial Council of Montenegro added.

The exhibition "Constitutions of Montenegro" will be open to the public in the period 22-26 October 2018, from 10 am to 4 pm.

Proceeding from the decision of the citizens of Montenegro to live in an independent and sovereign state of Montenegro, made in the referendum held on 21 May 2006, the Constitutional Assembly of the Republic of Montenegro adopted the Constitution and the Constitutional Law for its implementation, at the Third Sitting of the Second Ordinary Session in 2007, held on 19 October 2007.

The Constitution and the Constitutional Law for its implementation were promulgated on 22 October 2007.