Filaret case: Montenegro will prevent road blocks

Montenegrin police will act to prevent road blocks announced by the Serb Radical Party (SRS). Montenegrin ministry of the interior (MUP) director, Veselin Veljovic, Saturday warned Serbia's largest opposition party against their intention to weigh in on the ongoing controversy over SPC Bishop Filaret's unsuccessful attempts to enter that country. Filaret case: Montenegro will prevent road blocks The Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) dignitary has been denied entry after authorities in Podgorica were alerted to the fact the Hague Tribunal suspects Filaret of being a part of a network that provides assistance to the war crimes fugitives. "The roads are of public interest and according to our legal jurisdiction, we will prevent any such moves," Veljovic said. Asked whether the Serbian police will do the same if the roads leading to Montenegro are blocked as well, he said, "that is a matter for the Serbian police to decide". The Radicals teamed up with a party representing ethnic Serbs in Montenegro, the Serb List, to announce in Podgorica Friday that they will put up barricades unless Filaret, who embarked on a hunger strike on August 28, is allowed entry. Meantime, the synod of the SPC has asked the Montenegrin president and prime minister, as well as the chief Hague prosecutor, Carla Del Ponte, to "do all that is necessary" in order to "protect Bishop Filaret form violence and injustice, and save his life". Interior Minister Dragan Jocic also made a statement concerning the case, to say that the Montenegro's decision was "unsustainable and damaging". "This decision has already made a huge damage and therefore it is necessary for the Montenegrin authorities to immediately allow Bishop Filaret to perform his duties unobstructed," the number two in Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica's party said. "There are other, more efficient ways to cooperate with international institutions," Jocic added.

Filaret case: Montenegro will prevent road blocks

The Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) dignitary has been denied entry after authorities in Podgorica were alerted to the fact the Hague Tribunal suspects Filaret of being a part of a network that provides assistance to the war crimes fugitives.

"The roads are of public interest and according to our legal jurisdiction, we will prevent any such moves," Veljović said.

Asked whether the Serbian police will do the same if the roads leading to Montenegro are blocked as well, he said, "that is a matter for the Serbian police to decide".

The Radicals teamed up with a party representing ethnic Serbs in Montenegro, the Serb List, to announce in Podgorica Friday that they will put up barricades unless Filaret, who embarked on a hunger strike on August 28, is allowed entry.

Meantime, the synod of the SPC has asked the Montenegrin president and prime minister, as well as the chief Hague prosecutor, Carla Del Ponte, to "do all that is necessary" in order to "protect Bishop Filaret form violence and injustice, and save his life".

Interior Minister Dragan Jočić also made a statement concerning the case, to say that the Montenegro's decision was "unsustainable and damaging".

"This decision has already made a huge damage and therefore it is necessary for the Montenegrin authorities to immediately allow Bishop Filaret to perform his duties unobstructed," the number two in Prime Minister Vojislav Koštunica's party said.

"There are other, more efficient ways to cooperate with international institutions," Jočić added.