The President of Montenegro, an Israeli government minister, and the President of the EAJC commend the Balkan Jewish Communities Conference.

In his address at the opening of the 7th “Mahar” Conference, which brought together over 500 representatives of Jewish communities, President of Montenegro Milo Đukanović expressed gratitude for the honor of hosting the most prominent forum of Jewish communities and organizations in Southeastern Europe. Within the framework of the conference, an inauguration ceremony was held for the Chief Rabbi of Montenegro, Ari Edelkopf.

He also directed the participants' attention to social networks as a source of antisemitism. “We must leverage modern technologies to combat hatred, and to foster mutual understanding and tolerance in society,” declared President Milo Đukanović.

The “Mahar” Conference, uniting the Jewish communities of Albania, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia, North Macedonia, Slovenia, Bulgaria, and Kosovo, is held annually in Montenegro through the efforts of the Montenegrin Jewish community under the auspices of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress.

EAJC President Dr. Mikhail Mirilashvili, in his welcoming address to the conference participants, emphasized: “Unlike in other European regions, we record no manifestations of antisemitism in Montenegro, but rather witness expressions of friendship and mutual understanding. Montenegro serves as an exemplary model for the harmonious existence of a diaspora Jewish community, a testament to the outstanding efforts of the community leaders and President of Montenegro Milo Đukanović personally. We extend our sincere congratulations to the Chief Rabbi of Montenegro, Ari Edelkopf, on assuming this responsible office and wish him success in this noble mission.”

The conference program included a meeting between the Minister of Religious Services of Israel, Yitzhak Vaknin, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice of Montenegro, Zoran Pažin, EAJC representative, Chaim Blekhman, President of the Jewish Community of Montenegro, Đorđe Raičević, and the Chief Rabbi of Montenegro, Ari Edelkopf.

The Israeli Minister expressed gratitude to the Government and people of Montenegro for their genuine friendship with the Jewish people, as well as for their support and commitment to the shared values of peace, tolerance, and cooperation. Vaknin emphasized Israel's willingness to share its advanced technological expertise with Montenegro and to intensify mutually beneficial economic cooperation.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice of Montenegro, Zoran Pažin, stated during the meeting that Montenegro takes pride in its traditional friendship with the Jewish people and the fruitful cooperation with the State of Israel. He also thanked the Jewish Community of Montenegro for its constructive contribution to the drafting of the new legislation on freedom of religion.

The Jewish Community of Montenegro is one of the youngest Jewish communities in the world, making the organizers' efforts to provide kosher catering for over 500 conference participants particularly noteworthy. This marks the first such precedent in Montenegro.