The Charge d' Affaires of the Montenegrin Embassy in Serbia was summoned today to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Serbia to be handed a Note expressing the sharpest protest over allegations by Montenegrin officials that the Republic of Serbia was responsible for the crisis in Montenegro, and that Serbia's actions and policies threatened the independence of Montenegro.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Serbia firmly rejects irresponsible statements made by Montenegrin officials, which further threaten the stability of the region. These and similar statements do not contribute to peace, nor to the development of bilateral relations between the two countries, but to those who wish to disrupt our mutual relations.

The Foreign Ministry of Serbia wishes to point out that the Republic of Serbia has not in any way and by any of its actions caused the crisis in Montenegro, but rather the cause of the crisis was the entry into force of the Law on Freedom of Religion. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs estimates that its implementation threatens the national and religious rights of the Serbian people, who, according to the latest census, make up almost 30% of the population in Montenegro and that the said law legalizes the seizure of property of the Serbian Orthodox Church in the territory of Montenegro.

The Foreign Ministry stressed that all outstanding issues can and should be solved only through dialogue.

The Foreign Ministry took this opportunity to also strongly condemn an attempt to torch the Montenegrin flag on the Montenegrin Embassy building in Belgrade.

In line with the Montenegrin Foreign Ministry instruction, the Charge d' Affaires of the Embassy of Montenegro in Serbia refused to receive a protest note from the Foreign Ministry of Serbia.