Montenegro cherishes anti-fascism, national, religious diversity, says PM Đukanović

Podgorica, Montenegro (15 February 2013) -- Prime Minister Milo Đukanović met with Shimon Samuels, Director for International Relations of the “Simon Wiesenthal Center”, on Thursday. 

Montenegro cherishes the tradition based on anti-fascism, wealth of national and religious diversities and protection of individuals, PM Đukanović said, underlining the fact that Montenegro is one of the few European countries which, during the Second World War, did not experience the horrors of the Holocaust. In that regard, he pointed out the significance of further cooperation with the Jewish Community in Montenegro through exercising religious freedoms and fostering economic, cultural and scientific cooperation with the international Jewish institutions and Israel. 

Mr Samuels expressed his gratitude and respect for the Government of Montenegro’s attitude towards the Jewish community and for the freedom of religion in Montenegro. In that context, he invited Montenegro to be one of the sponsors of the UNESCO’s exhibition, scheduled to be opened this spring in Paris, titled “3 500 Years Long Relationship between Jewish People and the Land of Israel”.

PM Đukanović accepted Mr Samuels' invitation to make a speech in the Museum of Tolerance, the Centre’s headquarter in California, in which speeches were previously delivered by Ronald Regan, Vaclav Havel, Bill Clinton, Dalai Lama and others.

“Simon Wiesenthal Center”, based in Los Angeles, was established in 1977 and was named after Simon Wiesenthal, a man who dedicated his life to tracking down and bringing to justice the escaped Nazi criminals. The organisation aims to preserve tolerance and understanding through social inclusion and devotion to education and social action.