The Ministry of Culture and Media (MKM) will address the Government of Montenegro with a proposal for granting consent to the Municipality of Berane for the installation of a memorial to the former Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral, Amfilohije.
That's what Minister Tamara Vujović told Vijesti, stressing that the MKM cannot give consent to erecting a monument to a person whose death has not been 20 years old, based on the Law on Monuments.
Previously, the request to erect a monument to Amfilohi, sent to the Ministry by the Municipality of Berane, was rejected.
On this occasion, the Diocese of Budimljansko-Niššić of the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) reacted, emphasizing that "Decision No. 13-082/24-276/6 rejecting the Request and Supplement to the previous consent of the Government is illegal, because it does not contain sufficient reasons, and the reasons given are arbitrary and contradictory, unfortunately, partly also malicious".
Vujović put that Decision out of force, she told Vijesti, due to the failure of that department, the answer concludes...
"Within the Ministry of Culture and Media, a complete procedure was not carried out in accordance with the provisions of Article 9, paragraph 2 and 3 of the Law on Monuments. Namely, the Ministry cannot give consent for the installation of memorials for personalities before the expiration of 20 years from the date of their retirement, this can only be done with the prior consent of the Government. The Ministry of Culture and Media failed to request such consent from the Government," explained Vujović in her reply to Vijest.
The Eparchy of Buda and Nikšić particularly questioned the explanation in the Decision in which they refer to Article 10 of the Law on Monuments.
Article 10 stipulates that it is not allowed to erect a memorial: for an event that signifies the loss of freedom or independence of Montenegro; for an event that symbolizes or signifies cooperation with the occupier, his ally or helper; for an event that represents a conflict between peoples exclusively on a religious or national basis; a person who was an associate of the occupier, his ally or helper; to a person who advocated fascist, chauvinist or Nazi ideas or ideologies; to a person who has been convicted of a criminal offense against humanity or other goods protected by international law or has been declared a war criminal; to a person who had a negative role in the history of Montenegro or in the history of mankind.
"Quoting Article 10 of the Law in the context of finding justified reasons for rejecting the Request, without any factual connection with its content, is at the very least legally scandalous, and implicitly malicious. Is the Ministry insinuating that the personality and life work of the blessed Metropolitan Amfilohi could be subsumed under one of the prohibitive provisions of the mentioned article?", they state from the Diocese of Budimljansko-Nikšić.
When asked by Vijesti on this occasion, the minister says that these allegations do not refer to the figure and work of Metropolitan Amfilohi.
"The quoted provisions that you mention in your question do not at all refer to the figure and work of Metropolitan Amfilohije, but are part of the usual form of any resolution that cites the provisions of the law related to giving consent. On the contrary, Metropolitan Amfilohije is a person of exceptional importance for Montenegro and one of the most respected bishops in the entire Orthodox world. I apologize to all the citizens of Montenegro and the Eparchy of Budamlje-Nikšić for the omission," said Vujović in her reply, stating that the MKM will address the Government with a proposal for granting prior approval. Municipality of Berane for the installation of the memorial in question, in accordance with the powers of the Government.
MKM submitted a copy of the decision:
Bonus video:
