Government and Islamic Community sign agreement regulating mutual relations

Podgorica, Montenegro (30 January 2012) – Prime Minister Igor Lukšić and Reis of the Islamic Community Rifat Fejzić signed the agreement regulating relations between the Government and the Islamic Community in Montenegro earlier today in Podgorica.

PM Lukšić described the event as a contribution to strengthening the constitutionally defined relations, as well as an additional incentive to promote Montenegro as a European country that cherishes tolerance and wealth of differences.

The signing of the agreement, as well as the similar treaties with the Jewish and Orthodox communities which are to be signed, are paving the way to defining the platform as a legal framework for adopting the law on legal status of religious communities and law on the restitution of property rights, PM Lukšić explained.

Reis of the Islamic Community Rifat Fejzić noted that this is a historical event for the Islamic Community, which makes Montenegro the only country of the region, other than Croatia, to have signed such an agreement.

Islam gained its legal status by the Constitution of the Principality of Montenegro in 1905 and the agreement signifies the continuity of the Islamic Community and the official recognition of the religion in Montenegro, Reis Rifat Fejzić remarked.

Prime Minister Igor Lukšić and Vatican State Secretary Tarcisio Bertone signed the agreement regulating the status of the Catholic Church in Montenegro in June 2011 in the Vatican.