Ilić visits Filaret, cancels Montenegro trip

After seeing Bishop Filaret today, Velimir Ilić decided to cancel his visit to Montenegro.

Izvor: Beta

Wednesday, 05.09.2007.

12:23

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After seeing Bishop Filaret today, Velimir Ilic decided to cancel his visit to Montenegro. The infrastructure minister in the Kostunica cabinet decided to drive back to Belgrade with the rest of the Serbian delegation instead of going to Podgorica, after meeting with the Serbian Orthodox Church bishop, who is still on hunger strike at the border with Montenegro. Ilic visits Filaret, cancels Montenegro trip “I visited the bishop, and seeing him on hunger strike for not being allowed to enter Montenegro, I thought that if a Serbian bishop cannot go to Montenegro, a Serbian minister doesn’t have to go there either,” Ilic said. The minister added that the entire government delegation that was scheduled to meet with Montenegrin ministers in Podgorica this afternoon, to discuss the construction of the Belgrade-Bar highway, had decided to go back to Belgrade. “It is a disgrace that someone from Serbia, who has never been on trial, nor has had any indictments brought against him, is not allowed to enter Montenegro,” said Ilic. "The Montenegrin government should look to clear up the misunderstanding so that good cooperation between Serbia and Montenegro on issues of both religious freedoms and joint infrastructure projects can continue," he said. “I hope that the situation with the bishop will not have a negative effect on our bilateral relations and joint projects,” said Ilic, adding that “politicians come and go, while people stay.” According to Ilic, Filaret told him that he would continue his strike that began soon after the Montenegrin authorities denied him entry. Earlier, doctors said that Filaret's health had taken a turn for the worse today, after nine days without food. Prijepolje Health Centre Director Mirsad Ljuhad told the Beta news agency that Filaret's health had deteriorated over the last two days. He said that the recent wave of cold weather had also had a negative effect on the bishop's health. Filaret has been on hunger strike at the Serbia-Montenegro border for nine days, protesting at the Montenegrin government's refusal to allow him to enter the country. The decision was made on grounds that his name appeared on a list of persons who had helped indicted war criminals, published by the Hague Tribunal. The controversial SPC dignitary has on several occasions made public statements in support of the war crimes fugitives.

Ilić visits Filaret, cancels Montenegro trip

“I visited the bishop, and seeing him on hunger strike for not being allowed to enter Montenegro, I thought that if a Serbian bishop cannot go to Montenegro, a Serbian minister doesn’t have to go there either,” Ilić said.

The minister added that the entire government delegation that was scheduled to meet with Montenegrin ministers in Podgorica this afternoon, to discuss the construction of the Belgrade-Bar highway, had decided to go back to Belgrade.

“It is a disgrace that someone from Serbia, who has never been on trial, nor has had any indictments brought against him, is not allowed to enter Montenegro,” said Ilić.

"The Montenegrin government should look to clear up the misunderstanding so that good cooperation between Serbia and Montenegro on issues of both religious freedoms and joint infrastructure projects can continue," he said.

“I hope that the situation with the bishop will not have a negative effect on our bilateral relations and joint projects,” said Ilić, adding that “politicians come and go, while people stay.”

According to Ilić, Filaret told him that he would continue his strike that began soon after the Montenegrin authorities denied him entry.

Earlier, doctors said that Filaret's health had taken a turn for the worse today, after nine days without food.

Prijepolje Health Centre Director Mirsad Ljuhad told the Beta news agency that Filaret's health had deteriorated over the last two days.

He said that the recent wave of cold weather had also had a negative effect on the bishop's health.

Filaret has been on hunger strike at the Serbia-Montenegro border for nine days, protesting at the Montenegrin government's refusal to allow him to enter the country.

The decision was made on grounds that his name appeared on a list of persons who had helped indicted war criminals, published by the Hague Tribunal.

The controversial SPC dignitary has on several occasions made public statements in support of the war crimes fugitives.

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