Upon the invitation coming from the Association and Union of Montenegrins of Kosovo, member of the Committee on International Relations and Emigrants, Mr Dragutin Papović, attended the ceremony on the occasion of Day of Montenegrins and Independence Day of Montenegro, held on 5 June 2017 in Pristina.

The ceremony was opened by the President of the Association and Union of Montenegrins of Kosovo, Mr Slobodan M. Vujičić, while presentations, beside MP Mr Papović, were also held by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kosovo, Mr Enver Hoxhaj, Director of the Diaspora Administration, Mr Predrag Mitrović, Chief of Staff at the Office of the President of Montenegro, Mr Dražen Miličković, Ambassador of Montenegro to Kosovo, H.E. Mr Ferhat Dinosha and others. Albanian poet, Mr Lulzim Tafa, was presented with the First International Prize for Literature "Radovan Zogović", which was founded by the Association of Montenegrins of Kosovo, while the cultural program featured actors Slobodan Marunović and Enver Petrovci.

During his speech, the member of the Committee on International Relations and Emigrants, Mr Papović pointed to the fact that the most important aim of the Montenegrin minority in Kosovo's was recognition in the Constitution of Kosovo, which would create for the Montenegrin community conditions for the exercise of the corresponding rights and full participation in state institutions through legitimate political representatives.

Mr Papović reffered to the accession of Montenegro to NATO. He stressed that with this membership Montenegro has definitely strengthened its independence, security and integrity. Special gratitude was extended to all associations of emigrants from Montenegro who with the appropriate action have helped creating and promoting the reputation of Montenegro in the world. Mr Papović added that negotiations with the EU have been continuing with the accelerated pace. National interests and objectives have been versatile progress of Montenegro, strengthening its reputation and international position as a democratic and peaceful country and a reliable partner in international relations.

In addition, Mr Papović noted with satisfaction that the Montenegrins and people of Montenegrin origin, from the beginning, and without doubt, have been loyal citizens of the Republic of Kosovo, committed to its development and affirmation, which was characteristic to all emigrants from Montenegro.