Minister Selaković unveiled a monument to the poet and diplomat Milan Rakić in Mionica

30. Sep 2022.
Today, on the birthday of Milan Rakić, Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikola Selaković unveiled a monument to an acknowledged diplomat, poet and academic in Mionica, where Rakić's roots are.

The monument, which is the work of academic sculptor and Professor Dr. Zoran Ivanović, is a gift from the Municipality of Mionica to the elementary school named after Milan Rakić.

Speaking about Rakić, the Minister stated that Milan Rakić glorified the name of Serbia and has brought honour to his country everywhere in the world he served as a diplomat of the Kingdom of Serbia and the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, that is, in the former Ottoman Empire, in Priština, Skopje, Shkodra, Thessaloniki, and as ambassador in Rome and in Copenhagen.

„He also became known as a Serbian diplomat in the Ottoman Empire, serving in our consulate in Priština at a time when Kosovo and Metohija were occupied, at a time when another country, a large and powerful empire that spread over three continents, had sovereignty over them, and even then he had no dilemma to whom that country belonged, even then he had no dilemma whether or not to fight for Kosovo and Metohija. We do not have that dilemma today either,“ stressed Minister Selaković.

Noting that every generation of Serbs has contributed to the fight for Kosovo and Metohija, because the fight for Kosovo and Metohija was a fight for their survival and existence, he added that neither this generation, nor Serbia led by President Vučić, nor anyone who was in a responsible government position had any dilemma about that issue.

„We have to fight for Kosovo and Metohija because it is a fight for Serbia, it is honourable and respectful to fight for Kosovo and Metohija,“ he said.

The Minister stated that Serbia would continue to fight for as many UN member states as possible to respect and recognise Serbia's sovereignty over Kosovo and Metohija, because that sovereignty was incorporated in UN Security Council Resolution 1244 as well, and that day by day and month by month, more and more countries were revising their position.

„We will continue our fight, we will continue our activities so that our descendants can fight, but fight with their knowledge, fight by strengthening our economy, strengthening our science and strengthening ourselves. An example of this is Milan Rakić, but the guiding idea for such a thing are the words of another resident of Mionica, who said that life was a constant struggle, he who dares succeeds, and he who does not know fear moves ahead,“ concluded the Minister, quoting Duke Živojin Mišić, and adding: „Our continuous struggle, the continuous struggle of the Serbian people, is a struggle for truth, for justice, for dignity, for life, for Kosovo and Metohija.“

Selaković praised the Municipality of Mionica for fostering a culture of remembrance, adding that it could boast of a monument to the immortal Živojin Mišić, who was born in that region, as well as of a unique memorial dedicated to the Battle of Kolubara, which has been gradually emerging in Mionica in recent years, as an excellent stimulus for young people of Mionica, for all those who attend „Milan Rakić“ elementary school, with the idea of ​​great men as role models.

After the unveiling of the monument, Minister Selaković, together with President of the Municipality of Mionica Boban Janković, visited „Milan Rakić“ elementary school and talked with the teachers.