Joanikije: There is room for further progress in religious freedoms

There is room for further progress in religious freedom in Montenegro, assessed Metropolitan Joanikije of Montenegro and the Littoral, emphasizing the absence of priests in the armed forces, which is standard in both the United States Army (USA) and NATO.

Joanikije, as announced by the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral, spoke in Podgorica with the Chargé d'Affaires of the US Embassy in Montenegro, Michael Keyes.

It is stated that Joanikije informed Kiz about the state of religious freedom and the legal framework in which churches and religious communities operate in Montenegro today, also referring to the diversity of religious traditions in it.

"At the beginning, the Metropolitan also referred to the efforts made several years ago to achieve basic equality of all religions, saying that the current situation, although not ideal, is still satisfactory and certainly better than before, when the Serbian Orthodox Church was exposed to open discrimination," the statement said.

The Metropolitanate said that Keys conveyed to Ioanniki that freedom of religion, expression, and the dignity of every human being are deeply rooted in the ideas of the founders of the United States and its constituent documents, and that they are also on the list of priorities of the current American administration.

Keyes said that the current US government does not intend to tell others how to think and live or to interfere in the internal affairs of countries and their sovereignty, emphasizing the responsibility of all governments to help their citizens.

It is added that Keyes mentioned the extensive international report on religious freedom that the State Department prepares every year at the behest of the US Congress.

"He also emphasized that the priority of the US Embassy in Montenegro is strengthening relations with Montenegro, especially in terms of improving the business environment for American companies, which is being worked on intensively with the Government of Montenegro," the Metropolitanate said.

They said that Joanikije mentioned in the conversation that he believes there is room for further progress in religious freedom in Montenegro, citing as an example the absence of priests in the armed forces, which is standard in both the US Army and NATO.

"The interlocutors also shared their concerns about contemporary conflicts and crises in the world, as well as their views on the place and role of Churches and religious communities in them, agreeing that through their commitment and prayer for peace, they can influence the end of hostilities and suffering," the statement concluded.