Honorary President of the Democratic Alliance in Montenegro Mehmet Bardhi and the current leader of that party Saubih Mehmeti They are asking state leaders to remove the church from Rumija, and the first people of Bar not to include that location on top of the mountain in the municipal Spatial and Urban Plan (PUP) as a place for religious buildings.
Bardhi and Mehmeti delivered a petition with nearly a thousand signatures to the presidents of the state, government, and parliament, Jakov Milatović, Milojko Spajić i Andrija Mandić, Vice President of the Assembly To Nikola Camaju, as well as the presidents of the Municipality and the Municipal Assembly of Bar, Dušan Raičević i Branislav Nenezić.
In the letter to Milatović, which "Vijesti" had access to, it is requested that the metal church, subsequently covered with stones, which the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral SPC erected on June 18, 2005, be removed from the top of Rumija.
"We are addressing you with this request in writing - a petition, in which nearly a thousand citizens, as well as us on behalf of our political party DS in Montenegro, with their signatures, request that the building in the form of a church, a metal church, with a base measuring 3,5 meters by 2,6 meters, an altar section measuring 60 by 120 cm, a height to the dome of 3,5 meters, while its bell tower (devil's wheel) with a cross is 5 meters high, and its total weight is 3,5 tons, be removed from the top of Mount Rumija and that the location be returned to its original state, to be freed from helicopter military - church - Serbian occupation. The top of Rumija should and must be free, not only for the inhabitants of Krajina, the surrounding villages and settlements of Bar, Ulcinj and Shkodra, but for all people of good will and good intentions, for all confessions and all nationalities and for all guests, visitors to these beautiful historical areas, mountain regions and peaks, which represent the cultural, spiritual and material heritage of Krajina and the entire surrounding Podumije region. of the region", reads the petition, which is supported by Bardhi and Mehmeti.
It is recalled that the metal church was transported from the place of manufacture to the docks of the Port of Bar under the protection of a police car with license plate number P-200-279, under rotation.
"From where it was 'flew' to the top of Rumija on two occasions in a classic occupation action by a military helicopter MI-8, from the Podgorica garrison of the then Serbian and Montenegrin army, on June 18, 2005, and placed illegally, unlawfully and aggressively on the top of the mountain on a pile of stones, on a tumulus, by the Metropolitanate of the Montenegrin and Littoral SPC. That object was supposed to be removed based on the Decision of the Construction Inspector (number 0702-060/05-809) of July 22, 2005, which ordered the Metropolitanate of the Montenegrin and Littoral SPC to remove the metal structure and demolish the stone cladding of the walls of the religious building - the church on the top of Rumija within one day, and that in case of failure to comply, other legal measures would be taken."
They also state that the summit of Rumija should be free for all people, of all faiths and nations, "as it always was until this ecclesiastical and military occupation."
The petition's explanation states that climbing to the top of a mountain has always been a unique experience:
"From that place, an endless view spreads out in all directions - the wide blue sea, the Krajina mountains, the green peaks of endless forests, the Prokletije above Skadar and Lake Skadar, all the way to Podgorica and the plain of Ćemovsko polje, Malesija and Lovćen. When it clears up, after the rain, you can even see the coasts of Italy and Istanbul. But, there has never been a church on the top of Rumija, let alone a Serbian Orthodox Church."
It also says that there were no buildings there, except for a pile of stones - "a mound of hundreds and thousands of cubic meters."
"Made of stones carried by all those who climbed to the top of this sacred mountain of ours hundreds of years ago. We say 'ours' because in those coves and areas, from the foothills to the very top, we, the people of Kranj, kept herds of sheep and goats... Of course, once a year, in an organized manner, and on other occasions, when we climbed to the top, everyone would bring a stone so that this mountain would become even higher. And we, our relatives, neighbors, friends, acquaintances, guests and visitors, every time we climbed to the top, we put the stone we carried on a pile. Now the MCP SPC has placed a metal church on our stones, which it could not, nor was it allowed to, by any moral, legal or traditional norm."
It is added that weddings and other festivities in Krajina almost always began with songs about Rumija, and a stanza from one of them is quoted:
“Oh Rumia, high mountain, May you rise even higher, May you become taller than you are; When I climbed to your peak, I saw Istanbul with my own eyes.”
It is recalled that for years and centuries, knightly competitions have been organized on the meadow of Mala Rumija, which is located about 100 meters below the top of the mountain (1.595 meters above sea level), in the presence of a large number of people - throwing stones from the shoulder, long jumps, triple jumps, tug-of-war, wrestling...
"This facility is not only illegal, occupying and devastating the summit of Rumija, but also represents a deliberate, targeted, clear and greatest provocation and threat to these peaceful places in Krajina inhabited by the ethnic Albanian indigenous population in the Podrumija region, as well as to other peace-loving citizens, people who love free, high peaks and mountains."
It is recalled that the DS and Bardhi, as its president and MP, have reacted several times and requested the removal of the metal object.
"And through this petition, signed by nearly a thousand citizens in a very short time, we demand that you remove this illegal, peace-threatening metal object... and free the mountain from occupation by the Metropolitanate of the Montenegrin and Littoral SPC, because there is no place for any religious or other object there. Rumija should be free as it has always been since time immemorial. We ask that it be protected because Rumija is an indisputable cultural site and an archaeological site."
They state that religious buildings are built so that citizens can perform religious rituals in them, but in populated areas, villages, settlements and cities.
"Where there are citizens, and certainly not on the tops of high mountains, especially where people can hardly climb, even for a sports and recreational walk, which is the case with this metal object on the top of Rumija. That is why this is a provocation and a threat. Let's come to an understanding."
It is recalled that in the process of accession to the European Union, Montenegro has undertaken the obligation to consistently apply European standards in the area of the rule of law, protection of human and minority rights, and respect for cultural heritage.
"In this sense, we refer to Negotiating Chapter 23 - Judiciary and Fundamental Rights, which includes the protection of fundamental human rights, the rights of minorities and other minority national communities, the prohibition of discrimination and the obligation of the state to ensure equal treatment of all citizens. We believe that resolving the legal status of the facility at the top of Rumija, in accordance with applicable laws and executive decisions of the competent authorities, is important for preserving interethnic and interreligious harmony, protecting cultural and historical heritage and strengthening the trust of minority communities in the institutions of Montenegro, which is one of the key objectives of Chapter 23 in the European integration process."
They remind that requests for the removal of the metal church from the top of Rumija were made publicly by many civil society organizations, political parties, celebrities and citizens of different religions and nationalities "in order to restore peace among all citizens and institutions of the system in Montenegro."
"Conquered" islands on Lake Skadar
The petition also states that the problems in the areas below the Rumija region "began in the late 80s, when some from the Serbian Orthodox Church found a 'Serbian Mecca' in Ostros, in the middle of Krajina."
“At that time, in 1989, we had an interesting event that is worth mentioning, when, at the remains of the Prečista Krajina monastery (Alb. Kisha e Krajës, Shën Mëria e Krajës or E Papërlyemja e Krajës), the play 'Vladimir and Kosara' was performed. There were many visitors, locals and guests at that performance, and mostly party and social leaders of the League of Communists of Yugoslavia from Krajina, the Municipality of Bar, Montenegro and even the Federation. The main imam of Krajina, the hodja of that place, was also at that performance. It should be noted that the most important guest that evening was the president of the Central Committee of the League of Communists of Yugoslavia, then still a comrade, Professor Stipe Šuvar.”
They remind us that immediately after that comes "the 'event of the people', Milošević's campaigns, the beginning of bloody wars for the 'liberation' of Serbian territories, with much suffering...".
"In all of this, the SPC played an important role. There were also campaigns for the 'liberation' of Montenegro. There were large gatherings of the people, 'incendiary' speeches at those gatherings... But when it comes to these areas, where the Albanian ethnic population has lived for centuries, at that time the SPC saw an opportunity, which it had been preparing for years. The lightning raid on Lake Skadar began - the conquest of all the islands. Contrary to all valid laws of order and peace and folk customs, it almost began the illegal construction of churches, monasteries with accompanying houses, villas, and gardens on those islands, where priests and nuns will live. By spreading lawlessness, they also spread fear - the arrival and tour of many people in expensive cars, bringing building materials and transporting them to the island, where they carried out construction work on the foundations of our churches and former monasteries opposed the team shops and 'walks' in Krajina. At that time, the Montenegrin authorities - the competent ministries and construction inspectors, who were supposed to prevent this appropriation and devastation, changing the shape and form of old cultural monuments, alienation and lawlessness, failed to act - they remained observers or even turned a blind eye".
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