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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Cause of crisis in Montenegro the entry into force of Law on Freedom of Religion

Belgrade, 3 January 2020

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced today that the Chargé d'affaires of the Embassy of Montenegro in Serbia has been summoned for delivering a note expressing the sharpest protest over allegations by Montenegrin officials that the Republic of Serbia is responsible for the crisis in Montenegro and that Serbia is threatening Montenegro's independence with its actions and policies.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly rejects irresponsible statements made by Montenegrin officials, which further threaten the stability of the region, since such and similar statements do not contribute to peace, nor to the development of bilateral relations between the two countries, but those who wish to disrupt our mutual relations benefit from it.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs points out that the Republic of Serbia has not in any way caused the crisis in Montenegro, but the cause of the crisis is the entry into force of the Law on Freedom of Religion.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs estimates that its implementation threatens the national and religious rights of the Serbian people, which, according to the latest census, makes up almost 30% of the population in Montenegro, and that the said law legalises the seizure of property of the Serbian Orthodox Church in the territory of Montenegro.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasised that it advocates that all outstanding issues can and should be solved exclusively through dialogue.

On this occasion, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemned the attempt to put the Montenegrin flag on fire in front of the Embassy of Montenegro in Belgrade.

The Chargé d'affaires of the Embassy of Montenegro in Serbia, in accordance with the instruction of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro, refused to receive the note from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia, the statement said.