"Honorable members of the Military of Montenegro,

Every 7 October we recall 1042, when at that time small Army of Duklja (Doclea) defeated immeasurably stronger Byzantine Army. By celebrating this day as a symbol of great historical victory and courage, we show strong commitment.

Montenegro has always been in the place where diversities met. For a small country it has always been a challenge, sometimes a privilege, and sometimes a fateful threat. I deeply believe that rifles will no longer confront in these areas and that you as our defenders will bring about peace and stability.

You have before you a great social commitment as well, because you have been a symbol of patriotism – ready to stand at the "bumper" of the homeland at any moment of your life. For your mission in life you deserve the utmost respect and gratitude of the citizens and the state, the constitutional order and territorial integrity of which you so vigilantly guard.

You are the successors of the army that was the first to have its peacekeeping mission outside the homeland – in Crete in 1897, when the great forces of that time managed to agree that only the Montenegrin Army could be reliable enough to create peace. Today you are one step away from becoming full member of the largest safety and security system – the NATO – where you will defend democracy and promote the values of the rule of law and security together with the most developed ones.

The state must take care of you, because you are its keepers and for that reason you will always have support from the side of the Parliament and the Council for Defence and Security.

On behalf of the Parliament of Montenegro and my own behalf, I congratulate you for all the successful missions, tasks and reforms. Along with this congratulatory message on the occasion of the Day of Military of Montenegro, I wish all our sons and daughters outside homeland successful and above all safe mission."

Mr Ranko Krivokapić