PM Krivokapić opens the 8th Mahar Conference

Prime Minister Zdravko Krivokapić officially opened the 8th Mahar Conference last night, which is a traditional gathering of Jews from the former Yugoslavia and the whole of Southeast Europe.

On that occasion, President of the Jewish Community of Montenegro Nina Ofner Bokan presented Operation Brothers medal to Prime Minister Krivokapić, as a sign of gratitude for the support, help and excellent cooperation.

Addressing the hosts and guests of the conference, PM Krivokapić pointed out that he, like many Montenegrins, has always been impressed by the Jewish people because there are huge similarities. The first similarity is reflected in the fact that we did not allow ourselves to be chained and that our freedom is above everything.

The Prime Minister also shared his impressions of his two visits to Israel. Both times I visited Yad Vashem, and each time I sympathised with the Jewish people. That suffering of the Jewish people is something that all other nations need to keep in mind, in order for the world to be different, more beautiful, in order to respect and appreciate each other more. When I looked at the motto of your conference – the Bridges of Hope – I remembered a motto that is reflected in our three key words: faith, hope and love. The Jews were the first to spread that faith across the world and other nations. They always had hope, even when everything seemed lost. Of course, neither faith nor hope is enough if there is no love. For anyone who does not love his neighbor, cannot love others, said PM Krivokapić.

The Prime Minister added that the Government of Montenegro will do everything to ensure that the synagogue in Podgorica is built as soon as possible.

The conference was attended by President of the Jewish Community of Montenegro Nina Ofner Bokan, Chief Rabbi Luciano Moše Prelević, the non-resident Ambassador of Israel to Montenegro H. E. Yahel Vilan, Executive Director of Operations of the World Jewish Congress Ernest Herzog, Policy Director of the European Jewish Congress Johanan Seynave, and other distinguished guests.