The Municipality of Mojkovac celebrated Europe Day by honoring European values, tradition, and unity through the sixteenth International Folklore Festival “Golden Belt” (“Zlatni ćemer”).
This important event brought together about 1,300 participants from Montenegro, the region, and abroad, who through their performances presented the richness of different cultures, customs, and languages.
The festival was officially opened with a parade of ensembles, after which the program continued at the Nenad Rakočević Cultural Center.
In the spirit of European values and multiculturalism, the festival was opened by the President of the Municipality of Mojkovac, Vesko Delić, who in his address emphasized the importance of cultural heritage and the symbolism of connecting tradition with modern identity.
“The Golden Belt is a festival that, year after year, gathers lovers of folklore, tradition, and cultural richness, not only from Montenegro but from the entire region and Europe.
Today we are not only celebrating music, dance, and customs, but also the values that connect us.
Here, in the heart of Montenegro, different cultures, languages, and traditions meet in the spirit of respect, friendship, and a shared future. We are especially proud that this year, through this manifestation, we are also celebrating Europe Day – a day that reminds us of the brave idea of unity, peace, and cooperation among nations,” said Delić.
The attendees were also addressed by the Ambassador of Bulgaria to Montenegro, Stefan Dimitrov, who recalled the successful cooperation between Bulgaria and Mojkovac and expressed gratitude to Delić for his partnership and support.
The Minister of European Affairs in the Government of Montenegro, Maida Gorčević, emphasized the importance of local communities which, as she pointed out, represent the foundation of Montenegro’s European future.
According to her, it is precisely in places like Mojkovac that the values Montenegro strives for on its path to the European Union are lived and shaped – freedom, tolerance, culture, and respect for human dignity.
“Through the ‘Golden Belt’, you are not only preserving folklore – you are preserving identity, and showing that the European path does not mean forgetting, but quite the opposite: that authenticity makes us a richer part of the European family,” said Gorčević.
The event is part of the broader celebration of Europe Month across Montenegro, and Mojkovac has on this occasion shown that the European spirit can live through dance, song, and respect for diversity – values that connect people and form the foundation of a shared future.
