Ceremonial ribbon cutting for facilities financed by TIKA in Rožaje

At the ceremony, which is on 07.08. held in the grounds of the Ibarčan Mosque in Rožaj, in the presence of the President of the Turkish Agency for International Cooperation "Tika" Serdar Čam, Deputy Prime Minister Rafet Husović, President of the Islamic Community Rifat Fejzić, Vice President of the Assembly Sulj Mustafić and numerous other dignitaries, marked the completion of several projects, which were financed with the help of the Turkish Government and businessman Smail Dacić Balkana from that country. On this occasion, it was said that "Tika" is the largest donor of the Islamic community in Rožaje and in Montenegro.

Thanks to the representatives of "Tika" for their valuable help, reis Rifat ef. Fejzić said that only faith can save the people in these areas.
-"This find in difficult moments did not give up faith, because faith was always hope for the present and the future. Only those who are far from the faith have difficulties. Muslims have always been victims of these areas. What is happening in the Islamic world today is not Islam, nor are Muslims. It is something that someone else prepares and cooks in other people's kitchens, and only finds a Muslim waiter to serve it. The Islamic community knew this two decades ago, but we always tried to protect every member of our community, but we will not protect those who work in the interest of someone else, and all under the guise of Islam and Muslims, against Muslims and against these areas. You and those like that, when they ask for our protection, they will not get it. They accuse us of selling the Islamic community, and I say that if we sold it to anyone, we sold it to Turkey, the Turkish people and Recep Tayyip Erdogan. If that bothers anyone, I will say that we did not sell it to Vučić, Serbia, or the European foreign intelligence services for which they work. Even though we are called out for selling ourselves and our people, that is exactly what those who accuse us are doing - said Fejzić, emphasizing that he is sure that smart and wise people live in these areas who, in difficult moments throughout history, knew how to overcome problems through dialogue and communication.

Congratulating the Ramadan holiday, Çama said that the Republic of Turkey, led by the president, prime minister and all institutions, are always with Montenegro.

"When we come to these places, we are treated here, because you are all equally dear to us and you are very important to us. Through such contacts, we try to maintain a relationship with you. Maybe these projects don't have much value, but what unites us is the desire to see each other. We hope that tradition will continue. While we watch how the south and east of Turkey are arguing with each other, even though people are of the same ethnic composition and cannot find a common language, we think that Montenegro is on the right path and is giving important messages to all of us. I hope that in these areas people will always live in peace, harmony and tolerance" - said Čam, emphasizing that Tika will help in the realization of the planned project related to the opening of a women's madrasa in Rožaje.

"Ninety percent of the projects in the Islamic community in Rožaje are a donation from Tika. With the help of "Tika", today we are opening the Mosque in Ibarac, where the reconstruction of the facade, the interior part, the extension of several annexes, and the construction of central heating were carried out. Mr. Cham promised us that he would help to do the calligraphy and floor covering in this building. Also, an eye clinic was opened today in the Health Center, which was fully equipped by Tika. Within the madrasah, we opened a kindergarten with a capacity of 25 children, which was also financed by "Tika". Tika renovated and equipped the offices of the Board of the Islamic Community with computers and other office supplies, and currently works on the reconstruction of the Mosque in Biševo are being carried out with Tika's donations," said Ernad Ramović, chief imam of Rožaj.

The ceremony was also attended by the presidents of the municipalities: Rožaje, Petnjica, Plav and Gusinje.
The delegation visited the President of the Municipality of Rožaje, Mr Ejup Nurković, where they discussed future cooperation. On that occasion, the representatives of the local administration of Rožaje handed over the project documentation for a number of different projects of importance for the citizens that the local administration had prepared in the past year, and which were forwarded to over 30 addresses of potential investors. The president of TIKA paid personal attention to the project of building a new kindergarten in Rožaje, as well as to some investments in other infrastructure. On this occasion, Mr. Nurković stated that he appreciates and respects the proven commitment of the TIKA agency to Rožaje and pointed out that, in addition to religious buildings and a health center, TIKA financed a capital investment - the donation of new water pipes, which were installed in the Vrela Ibar water supply system, which amounted to one million euros .

Text taken from rozaje.today