Expert dialogue between the Government and Serbian Orthodox Church didn’t produce the expected result, although Government demonstrated patience, competence and willingness to overcome differences and divisions within Montenegro’s social being, said vice-president of Government and Minister of Justice, Mr Zoran Pažin.
“What we proposed yesterday was the end line of compromise, we even crossed that line. There’s no sense in going on with the dialogue as Government’s offer was explicit and it was explicitly rejected”, Mr Pažin said.
Although SOC has made over 2.000 remarks concerning the earlier versions of the law, Mr Pažin says that they have managed to bring all the disputable items to several issues.
“We proposed amendments to Articles 63 and 64. We also offered additional guarantees in the Article 64 for the use of cultural goods when the court decided in regular procedure that the property is state-owned. Unfortunately, all proposals were rejected”, Mr Pažin points out.
Government’s prerequisite was registration of SOC in Montenegro.
“SOC raised another issue during the dialogue –the term “state property” should not be in the Article 62 although that term has been used in Montenegro’s legal system since its establishment.
SOC also rejected proposal to join efforts with the Government in defining norms adopted by the Venice Commission.
However, Mr Pažin hopes that SOC will reconsider its views concerning these questions.
“Government will be open to listen to all the arguments”, Mr Pažin said.
Asked what the background of religious processions is, Mr Pažin stresses that he should not be the one to draw conclusions regarding that matter.
“I respect every religious community, although previous activities of SOC indicate its political positioning on public stage. It could be an expression of the need to reinforce its argumentation in the dialogue”, Mr Pažin said.
That’s wrong approach, he says.
“DPS will be dominant government after the elections”, Mr Pažin assures.
Mr Pažin categorically denies that dialogue is the marketing act of the Government.
“It’s attempt to reach agreement with SOC”, Mr Pažin said.
PM Duško Markoivć said that Government’s only request was registration of all churches and religious communities, which SOC refused.
