Daciq: Serbia-Montenegro Reports Very Bad

Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic said relations between Belgrade and Podgorica are very bad because of the adoption of the Montenegrin law on freedom of religion, adding that whoever accepts this law in Serbia and “betrays his country”.

The one who tolerates this law betrays his country, but the problem is that this is where interest circles”, Daciq told Vojvodina Radio-Television.

He dismissed the accusations of a group of intellectuals from the former Yugoslavia who, through an appeal, said Belgrade was threatening peace and stability “in Montenegro and the region”. In this appeal, the international community is required to condemn political, church and media campaigns in Serbia.

We have never said that we want Montenegro to be united with Serbia, nor have we adopted any act that would have anything to do with domestic relations in Montenegro. Montenegrins repeatedly claim Serbia wants to be back in the same state as Montenegro. Not that we don't want, but it's a finished history”, Dachic said.

He said Serbia has expressed its dissatisfaction with the law's adoption, which it believes was directed against the Serbian people and the Serbian Orthodox Church, and urged Montenegrin authorities to resolve the problem in peace and dialogue.

Montenegro adopted the Law on Freedom of Religion on December 27, 2019.

The law is strongly rejected by the Serbian Orthodox Church, officials and a part of the opposition in Serbia.

What is questionable is the formulation in the law, under which “all religious objects that belonged to the state of Montenegro, prior to the loss of its independence in 1918, and which later did not become legal property of a religious community, will be recognised as state property.