Montenegrin President, Mr Milo Đukanović, has stated that DPS assumes part of the responsibility for the reinforcement of SOC in Montenegro, but that it didn’t happen by accident.
In an interview for Beta Agency, Mr Đukanović has said that Serbia has returned to the 90s politics by allegedly “protecting rights of endangered Serbs in the region is actually jeopardizing the sovereignty of neighboring states”, the activity in which SOC plays an important role.
Asked if DPS assumes part of the responsibility for the reinforcement of SOC, Mr Đukanović said it “is impossible to shy away from the responsibility for such a chaos that followed elections”.
Mr Đukanović said he had spoken to Mr Amflohije after the referendum in 2006 about the name of the church in Montenegro.
In that context, en Episcopal Council was formed in Montenegro, giving the SOC in MNE a form of autonomy.
“Right after the restoration of independence, I suggested to Mr Amfilohije that we should consider giving the name to the church in MNE, to set it free from national sign of Serbian and Montenegrin divisions”, he said.
One such potential evolution required some time, he added.
“But the idea wasn’t rejected. It wasn’t dismissed. The communication process was smooth. However, further development of events in Serbia and in the region, led to tight relations primarily due to the restoration of great state ideas”, Mr Đukanović said.
Mr Đukanović said that he had no doubt that Law on Freedom of Religion would sooner or later become part of the legal movement in Montenegro. He also thinks that the law should have been adopted earlier.
“December last year wasn’t optimal time”, he said.
Mr Đukanović said that re-registration of the property in question started before 1990s.
“I live for the day when it will finally be established how that happened, who was responsible” he said.
Although he has heard comments that Metropolitan defeated him in the elections, Mr Đukanović said that “neither Amfilohije nor anybody else defeated him”.
“One should not despair, just take a real outlook. Life is full of ups and downs. Failing is not the proble. Not getting up is”, Mr Đukanović said.
Why didn’t he attend funeral of Metropolitan Amfilohije, President said he thought it “was appropriate enough to send a telegram to SOC, the clergy and believers”.
“I wasn’t prevented, I just thought it would be an appropriate measure”, Mr Đukanović said.
