Liberation Day and Herceg Novi Municipality Day were solemnly celebrated

Under the slogan "Herceg Novi, a growing city", the Liberation Day of Herceg Novi and the Municipality Day were celebrated yesterday. According to tradition, the program marking an important historical date began with the laying of wreaths on the memorial, where the leaders of the Municipality of Herceg Novi, councilors, representatives of the Army and members of UBNOR (association of fighters of the national liberation war) paid their respects.

The Herceg Novi city music and majorette parade through the center of the city magnified the moment of celebration, and then in the Park Hall, the President of the Municipal Assembly, Ivan Otović, opened the ceremonial session, congratulating the citizens and reminding the greatness of the sacrifice of the patriots of this region.

"From the beginning, the people of Herceg Novi resolutely and courageously opposed the occupiers, and the day of victory and liberation dawned on October 28, 1944, when the enemy was driven out by the fighters of the 10th Herceg Novi, 2nd Dalmatian and 1st Boke brigades. Respect is also due to the new patriots who made huge sacrifices in order to preserve the lives of their families and fellow citizens, without forgetting their roots. It is our obligation to preserve the heritage of the liberation wars, to respect and respect each other," he said.

In the spirit of this year's slogan "Herceg Novi, a growing city", Otović pointed to the common mission of strengthening the city as "a place worth living, where creativity is encouraged and talent is developed..."

He noted that as representatives of the local self-government, they try to support families with children, and to cover the transportation costs of all students from the suburbs, subsidize the costs of the second child's stay in kindergarten in the amount of 50 percent, help educational institutions, develop and improve youth policies and support young talents.

"The beauty of the city is renewed by the young generation, which is why it is necessary to fight against the white plague with all the atoms of our strength," said Otović.

The President of Herceg Novi municipality, Stevan Katić, said that Herceg Novi celebrates Liberation Day with pride, we do not allow it to be forgotten, but by respecting such ideals, it builds a modern society aware of its past, but ready for the challenges of the future. He summarized what was achieved in the previous 12 months, emphasizing that Herceg Novi is returning to the old paths of success.

"Herceg Novi is becoming attractive to investors, the number of tourists and hotel complexes is constantly increasing, it is returning to the old paths of success and recognition, which is why we must create an infrastructure that can respond to such needs and create an even more favorable investment environment." The basic element is a good road infrastructure, and we remain committed to this in the coming period as well - it is planned that the revised main project of the local bypass from Debeli Brijeg to Zelenika will be completed by the end of the year, and we have also made a conceptual solution for the continuation of the bypass, from Zelenika to Morinje. "We are also pleased that the state has initiated the drafting of a conceptual solution for the construction of an expressway that will permanently eliminate traffic jams along the entire Montenegrin coast," Katic said.

He pointed out that over two million have been invested in the rehabilitation and expansion of the local road network in all local communities, and that more than 2.5 million are being allocated for new roads in Kumbor and Topla. He pointed out the importance of an orderly water supply, and announced that Herceg Novi is expecting multimillion-dollar tenders by the end of this year and during the next year, after which the new water infrastructure will be built for Trebjesin and Kameno, as well as the secondary water network for Rose, which will be connected to the primary network, the construction of which is in progress, and the value is around ten million euros.

He reminded that Herceg Novi can boast of the title of European City of Sports this year, and the fact that new athletes and clubs are recording enviable results.

"It should be emphasized that one of the most trophy-winning clubs in Montenegro operates in Herceg Novi, as well as that our city produces great water polo players and swimmers who are the basis for the national selection, but we are a city that does not have a swimming pool. We need such a sports and recreational complex, and I believe that the state will have the will and desire to help us in this," Katić added.

He especially thanked all the participants in the government in Herceg Novi who "through constructive dialogues always found a common solution and remained united in their work, and were dedicated to the development of the city and the well-being of all citizens."

"Herceg Novi is really growing - because it preserves true values ​​and its heritage, sets records when it comes to the attendance and quality of festivals and events, helps and promotes creativity, represents support and support for children and young people, families, the elderly, citizens of poor financial status, athletes, entrepreneurs. It progresses because it finds strength and foundation for further work in togetherness, harmony, understanding and tolerance, in friendship and cooperation. I believe that we will continue in the same way, that's why I invite you all to work together to ensure that Herceg Novi remains a city in which it is nice to live, work and visit," underlined Katić.

Municipal Day is an opportunity to award deserving individuals the city's most prestigious recognition - the October Award. The president of the jury, Jadranka Bubalo, announced that the jury unanimously chose Novljanin, water polo player, Aleksandar Leka Ivović as the winner of the award for exceptional sports results and affirmation of the city of Herceg Novi.

"From this place, we thank Aleksandar who has been awarded several times for the best water polo player in the world, several times for the best athlete of Montenegro, and as the best ambassador conveys the glory of his hometown to young people around the world and affirms the sport," said Bubalo.

The celebrated water polo player, Aleksandar Ivović, pointed out that he was honored and privileged to be chosen as the winner of the October Award.

"When you receive such a significant award in your city, it becomes even more important, because one of the most difficult things is to be recognized where you grew up." I hope that what made me stand out in the foreground as a candidate for receiving this award, apart from professional, is also a moral thing, because throughout my career I have always tried to represent this city in the best possible way, to maintain a relationship with the city and the people of Herceg Novi. In the future, it will be my duty to pass on some of my moral and work ethics to some younger generations and younger players, of which there are many in the Adriatic. Since I am aware of the fact that this prize has a financial part, I decided that that part will be donated to charity. I hope that we will choose the right family from our city that would need that money more than anything," said Ivović.

The students of the sixth, final year of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Belgrade - Natalija Đurović with an average of 9.6 and Slavko Vuksanović with an average of 9.8 - were also awarded special gifts.

As part of the ceremony, a short film by Radio Television Herceg Novi was shown in which emphasis was placed on some of the most important achievements of the city in the past 12 months, and in the artistic part of the program the band Trio Mare, students of the Herceg Novi Music School and the Diano dance club performed.

This year's celebration of the Municipality Day was made special by the exhibition of portraits of former mayors and presidents of the Municipality of Herceg Novi, which was organized in the foyer of the Park Hall. The portraits are the work of a talented painter from Herceg Novi, Ivan Zečević.