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PM Marković hosts Cardinal Parolin: Holy See supports multiethnic and multireligious diversity of Montenegro, its EU integration

Published on: Jun 27, 2018 10:31 PM Author: PR Service

Podgorica, Montenegro (27 June 2018) -- Prime Minister Duško Marković and State Secretary of the Holy See, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, told a press conference following their official talks that the relations between the two countries are good and that they will be further strengthened by the opening of the Apostolic Nuncio in Podgorica, stressing that the Holy See fully supports multiethnic and multireligious diversity of Montenegro and its European integration.

"We in particular appreciate the understanding and support of the Holy See for Montenegro’s Euro-Atlantic orientation and its EU membership aspirations, and its support for the Western Balkan region. As a country with traditionally religious and national tolerance and understanding, as key preconditions for our stability and progress, we also value the role of the Catholic community in Montenegro in preserving this fundamental values of Montenegro," said Prime Minister Marković following the meeting.

Cardinal Parolin pledged full support of the Holy See to Montenegro’s EU bid, stressing that the multinational and multireligious diversity should be Montenegro's contribution to Europe.

"The strong engagement of the European Union towards the Western Balkans is a positive sign, and I hope that this will be even more strongly confirmed at the summits that are ahead of us. The EU is not only an economic and legal system, it is also a peace-making project and a community of principles and values. I really want Montenegro to join this community and thus contribute as a social model that is able to preserve religious and cultural identity of its citizens and to promote interethnic and interreligious cooperation and harmony, and commitment to the protection of the natural environment because the laws of nature are our common house," Cardinal Parolin pointed out.

The State Secretary of the Holy See expressed gratitude to the state authorities of Montenegro for their attitude towards the Catholic community.

"I am pleased to learn that Montenegro, in the spirit of ethnic and religious plurality, updates its own legislation in order to further strengthen religious freedoms that are indivisible from all other freedoms," Cardinal Parolin told the press in Podgorica.

The State Secretary of the Holy See was greeted in Podgorica with the highest state honours.

He will also meet with President of Montenegro Milo Đukanović, Speaker of the Parliament Ivan Brajović, and Culture Minister Aleksandar Bogdanovic.

During a several-day official visit to Montenegro, Cardinal Parolin will serve holy Mass in Podgorica, Bar and Kotor.

PUBLIC RELATIONS SERVICE OF THE GOVERNMENT OF MONTENEGRO

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