PM Krivokapić meets with the Mayor of Cetinje: All social actors are obliged to show a responsible attitude towards peace, tolerance and dialogue

Prime Minister Zdravko Krivokapić met today with the Mayor of the Old Royal Capital of Cetinje Aleksandar Kašćelan regarding the situation caused by the announced enthronement of the newly elected Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral, Mr. Joanikije in Cetinje on 5 September. Minister of the Interior Sergej Sekulović, Minister of Public Administration, Digital Society and Media Tamara Srzentić, President of Local Parliament at Old Royal Capital Cetinje Dejana Dizdar and Deputy Mayor of Cetinje Miloš Ražnatović also attended the meeting.

PM Krivokapić said that the state is ready to guarantee security to all citizens of Montenegro. The Prime Minister reiterated that it is not within Government's competence to decide where and when any religious organisation, including the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral, will organise the enthronement of the spiritual leader.

The common duty of all state bodies and entities, including citizens, is to reduce tensions and send messages of tolerance, and to remind that in a civil state, the state and the church are separate, that every person has the right to a different opinion, but not to violence, Krivokapić said.

Prime Minister Krivokapić emphasised that it is everyone's duty to understand each other and accept each other's right to diversity.

Mayor Kašćelan said that the priority of the local government is to preserve the stability, peace and security of the citizens, as key preconditions for the realisation of all rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution and laws.

It is clear that the announced enthronement carries a high security risk, that tensions and possible occurrence that may occur as a result of all this can disrupt what should be most important to all of us - peace and stability of the state, security of all our citizens. Therefore, we repeat that enthronement of the metropolitan should take place outside Cetinje, said Kašćelan.

Minister of the Interior Sergej Sekulović pointed out the impossibility of the Government and the relevant Ministry to make decisions on behalf of one religious organisation.

The Ministry is trying to find an optimal solution. However, the essence of the problem does not seem to be in the very act of enthronement, but in the conflict of different policies. Regardless of that, we will do everything in our power to make sure everything runs smoothly, Minister Sekulović concluded.

The meeting stated that the current security situation in Cetinje is not satisfactory, and that all social actors are obliged to show a responsible attitude towards peace, tolerance, dialogue, European values and planned economic progress.