The Turkish Chamber of Commerce in Montenegro and the Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye in Podgorica, on the occasion of the Muslim month of fasting, Ramadan, prepared an iftar for numerous dignitaries from the political, diplomatic, religious, economic and cultural life of Montenegro.
The festive iftar was attended by, among others, the hosts of the iftar, the ambassador of R. Türkiye in Montenegro, Mr. Bariš Kalkavan, president of TurkCham, Mr. Burhan Genç, President of Montenegro Jakov Milatović, President of the Parliament of Montenegro Andrija Mandić, President of the Islamic Community in Montenegro Rifat ef. Fejzić, Deputy Prime Minister Aleksa Bečić, government ministers, MPs, ambassadors, as well as municipal presidents. Iftar was attended by representatives of political parties, imams, as well as representatives of public, social and cultural life from Montenegro and the Republic of Türkiye.
In his address, Ambassador Kalkavan thanked all the guests for attending the iftar. “I congratulate you all on the month of Ramadan. Today we gathered with dear guests and this is an indicator that Montenegro is a country of coexistence”, said Kalkavan.
The President of Montenegro, Jakov Milatović, said that he was proud and happy that he attended the iftar tonight. “Islamic faith and tradition represent an inseparable part of the rich treasury of our society, on which the values of multiculturalism and tolerance in Montenegro are based. The month of Ramadan symbolizes a period of spiritual renewal and mercy, when believers of the Islamic faith testify to humanity and spiritual peace through personal sacrifice,” Milatović said.
Reis of the Islamic Community in Montenegro Rifat ef. Fejzić said that he was pleased that a large number of people gathered at the iftar to share a piece of bread together. “Ramadan makes us better. I am very proud of my members of the Islamic community in Montenegro, from Ulcinj to Pljevlja, for everything they do and how they behave all these years. Sometimes the sense of minority gives one a better hearing to anticipate and feel the time to come. Muslims in Montenegro have friends both in the East and in the West,” said Fejzić.
Counselor for religious issues at the Embassy of R. Türkiye in Podgorica, Mr. Bahattin Akbaş thanked the guests for responding in such large numbers and used the opportunity to remind the guests that during the month of Ramadan, genocide takes place in Palestine and prayed for peace and well-being in the world.
TurkCham Montenegro is a non-profit independent civil society organization established in 2023 by leading companies from Montenegro and Turkey.
