Zenka-Alfandari:The Jewish community of Montenegro is not large, but it noticeably contributes to the preservation of the total coexistence

Minister for Human and Minority Rights Mehmed Zenka said in conversation with the President of the Jewish Community of Montenegro Jasa Alfandari that in our country a better understanding of the history of the Jewish people is needed.

Minister Zenka pointed out high respect for the Jewish people at the beginning, and to the contribution of these people to the achievements of world civilization in general. Zenka current cooperation of Montenegro with the Jewish community of Montenegro sees as a successful one and of high quality. According to him, the same is reflected in the implementation of the Agreement on the regulation of relations of mutual interest between the Government of Montenegro and the Jewish Community of Montenegro. 

Mr. Alfandari said that the first Jewish community in Montenegro was founded in September 2011 and less than a year later the aforementioned contract with the Government of Montenegro was signed. In this way, the Jewish faith is recognized as one of the official religion in the country with all the rights and obligations resulting from it, concluded Alfandari adding that the Jews in that way got recognition of their full autonomy in regulating their religious and ethnic relations so far as it does not conflict with the law.

During the meeting it was also discussed the importance of the Jewish community of Montenegro to preserve overall harmony and co-existence as well as further development of the Montenegrin society in that direction. It was agreed that the Jewish community of Montenegro is not large, but its contribution to the overall interreligious synergy in Montenegro is notable and highly respected. The opinions were exchanged, as well, on heritage of Jews, Sabato Cevi, the man who marked a part of world cultural heritage and its teachings left a deep mark that still awakens interest not only of professional, but also of the general public, as well as the current challenges that the Jewish community of Montenegro carries.

It was jointly concluded that Montenegro is one of the few countries that has developed a remarkable interfaith and interethnic harmony. Strengthening communications through direct access and dialogue as the fairest and most effective means of communication for which the Ministry of Human and Minority rights advocates, has been met with great acclaim and with representatives of the Jewish Community of Montenegro. This was the first visit to the Minister to this community in order to intensify further cooperation.

The Ministry for Human and Minority Rights