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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

More than 240 mln dinars for religious education in Serbia

Belgrade, 27 March 2006

Serbian Minister of Religion Milan Radulovic said today that this Ministry set aside almost 242.5 million dinars for religious education during two years of its work.

Milan Radulovic at today's press conference

Speaking at a press conference at which the results of the Ministry's work in the previous period were presented, Radulovic said that theological education is the most expensive form of education in Serbia because theology students have to live in boarding schools where the monthly cost of accommodation is 10,000 dinars.

Two years ago the Ministry assumed the responsibility to financially assist boarding schools and to cover half of the students' accommodation costs, while in the case of most underprivileged students it committed to pay the entire cost.

Radulovic recalled that in the past two years, the social, financial and working position of priests and religious workers has been improved, and that the entire monkery was given basic health insurance financed by the state, whose total value is some 92.6 million dinars.

The Minister said that 91.3 million dinars were set aside for construction of religious facilities, stressing that this year even more funds will be set aside for these purposes since the Serbian government understood that the construction of churches is part of citizens' general living standards. Radulovic said that following the budget revision, significant funds will be set aside for renovation of churches and monasteries.

According to Radulovic, the Ministry will try to propose the law on restitution of property to churches and religious communities as soon as possible so that they could get financial basis for restoring their irreplaceable role in society.

He added that the draft law on churches and religious communities is undergoing parliamentary procedure and that it should be adopted during April, stressing that law is of multiple importance because Serbia is one of few European countries which do not have legislation on churches and religious communities.