Prime Minister Spajić hosts Bishop of Kotor

Montenegro will achieve full rule of law when every individual and organization in the country feels that the same standards apply to all. In this regard, the Government will ensure that the Catholic Church, like all religious organizations and citizens, receives equal treatment, emphasized Prime Minister Milojko Spajić during a meeting with the Bishop of Kotor Mladen Vukšić.

The Prime Minister expressed his full support for the new Bishop of Kotor, assuring him of the Government's cooperation to foster a constructive partnership.

We are committed to resolving the restitution of property rights for the Diocese of Kotor and all religious communities. To expedite this process, we will establish a Commission to address issues that have no legal barriers and are easily verifiable, stated Prime Minister Spajić. He also highlighted that in March, following a six-year hiatus, a session of the Mixed Commission for the Implementation of the Fundamental Agreement between Montenegro and the Holy See was successfully held.

Building on this progress, the Ministry of Justice will initiate direct communication with the Diocese of Kotor to advance and complete pending cases.

Bishop Vukšić thanked the Prime Minister for the meeting, emphasizing the importance of equal treatment for all religious communities by the state.

We fully respect Montenegro’s status as a secular state, but it is also clear that we must collaborate at the highest level for the benefit of society as a whole, stated Vukšić.

Discussions also touched upon the importance of cultural heritage managed by the Diocese of Kotor and the necessity of preserving and restoring these treasures collaboratively. This effort benefits the state through revenues generated by religious tourism.

The meeting was attended by the Chancellor of the Diocese of Kotor, Don Robert Tonsati, and Montenegrin MP Tonći Janović.