Amfilohije: We’re Ready to Discuss the Law But Not Basic Agreement

Metropolitan Amfilohije (Beta)

Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral Amfilohije said on Feb. 3 that the Serbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro is ready to meet with Montenegrin Prime Minister Dusko Markovic and talk about the Law on Religious Freedom’s repeal, in accordance with the legal system, or the exclusion of all discriminatory provisions within it, only after which a basic agreement between the Church and the Montenegrin government can be discussed.

"We’ve been expecting an invitation from You to open a dialogue like responsible people about the deep and crucial problems caused by, and augmented, by this law, as well as a way of solving and overcoming these difficulties in line with the established civilizational and European standards and Montenegro’s legal system, all of which would be in the best interest of the citizens of Montenegro", said the metropolitan in his reply to Markovic’s invitation.

Amfilohije also said that the Church’s invitation to a public and institutional dialogue has always been open, but that "unfortunately, it has so far been ignored by the Montenegrin government". 

According to him, only after this key problem the present Montenegro is facing is solved, other talks can and must commence on solving the complex issues that involve the restitution of property the Communist regime had unlawfully confiscated after World War II from the Serbian Orthodox Church, the Roman Catholic Church, as well as the Islamic community and Montenegro’s citizens, and which Montenegro is legally obligated to do by its own and international laws.

After this key problem is solved, the metropolitan added, the signing of a basic agreement between the Serbian Orthodox Church and the Montenegrin government can be discussed.

On Jan. 28, it was posted on the government’s official Twitter account that Prime Minister Markovic had invited Amfilohije to discuss the Law on Religious Freedom.