"They together expressed deep concern regarding the tragic epilogue of the Kosovo crisis and the situation caused by the NATO intervention in Yugoslavia, as well as the consequences suffered by Montenegro and the rest of our country because of that. They expressed solidarity with people of all religious and ethnic backgrounds in Kosovo, Serbia, and Yugoslavia, who are dying as innocent victims of this mindless tragedy. They also warned about the danger of a horrifying spreading of violence, which can start the flame of war in Montenegro, endanger the lives of all Montenegrin citizens and bring into question the survival of the people and the state," said the statement released after the meeting. "It was emphasized that the preservation of civic peace and ethnic and religious tolerance in Montenegro and Yugoslavia is today the most important obligation of all our citizens, all state institutions and political factors, all believers, and all religious leaders in our Republic. Every person, be he a believer or not, has the obligation to respect the right to life and all other rights of other people, his compatriots, neighbors, regardless whether he shares with them the same religious, national, or political beliefs. The present generations in Montenegro, members of all religious and ethnic communities, have the historical responsibility to, in the spirit of the best traditions of their glorious ancestors, preserve peaceful coexistence and relations of mutual respect and solidarity, to preserve Montenegro, and contribute to the establishment of peace in the whole of our state. Only such, Montenegro of peace and religious and ethnic concord, can help all of its citizens and its compatriots in Serbia, Kosovo, and Yugoslavia, to together mitigate the consequences of a great tragedy that has been inflicted on our country at the beginning of the new century."
"They also appealed that NATO strikes on Yugoslavia be immediately halted, because the difficult Kosovo problems cannot be solved by use of force. They also appealed to the responsible officials in Yugoslavia to immediately go back to the Kosovo peace process. Further NATO strikes can turn the whole Yugoslavia into the worst humanitarian catastrophe in Europe during this century, and ignite the war in the whole region. The participants appealed for the immediate cessation of violence. The great Chiristian holiday of Christ's resurrection calls for peace and reconciliation. God is not a God of hatred and violence, but a peace-maker, the maker of freedom and love between people," emphasized the religious officials, concludes the release.