Keren Kayemet LeIsrael-Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF), the largest Jewish organisation in the area of environment, has opened its 45th office worldwide in Podgorica, capital of Montenegro, to serve as its headquarters for the entire Balkans.
The establishment of this new office, which was the result of the collaborative efforts between KKL-JNF, the Jewish community of Montenegro and the government of Montenegro, also represents the start a broad cooperation with Montenegro in a series of domains including agriculture, water and forest management.
Earlier this year KKL’s World Chair and Co-Chair, Efi Stenzler and El Aflalo, met Montenegro’s Prime Minister Milo Dukanovic in Podgorica to discuss the establishment of the organisation’s representation.
The opening festive ceremony was attended by 600 guests including Dr. Miomir Mugosha, Mayor of Podgorica, Israel’s ambassador to Serbia and Montenegro, Yosef Levy, Menachem Leibovic, KKL-JNF Vice Chairman, Avi Dickstein, KKL-JNF Executive Director of Resources, Development and Public Affairs and Oscar-winning film producer Branko Lustig, who produced Schindler's List and Winds of War.
Jasa Alfandari, leader of the 300-member Montenegro Jewish community, becomes president of KKL-JNF’s Balkans representation.
In his address, KKL-JNF Vice Chairman Menachem Leibovic thanked the government of Montenegro for its ‘’total support.’’
"Montenegro is a small Jewish community, but a very lively and active community, and very important to the State of Israel," he said. "KKL-JNF is known as a well renowned expert in pushing back the desert and stopping it from expanding, which causes a decline in soil fertility. KKL-JNF would be honored to share its knowledge with the government and professional bodies in Montenegro, or in any other country in the Balkans, for that matter."
Avi Dickstein said ‘’this is only the beginning.’’ ‘’I'm sure that every week now, people from around the Balkans will come to see and use our facilities. And I invite all of you to Israel to see our 110 years of experience in building and developing the land of Israel, making it green, " he added.
Hailing his country as an ‘’open country which welcomes people of all religions and of all nations,’’ the Mayor of Podgorica pledged full informational and logistical support from Montenegro's capital for the development of even stronger relations between his country and Israel. Dr Mugosha spoke about the importance of raising awaraness amongst Montenegro citizens about Israel’s achievement in many fields, especially agriculture.
The Israeli ambassador hailed the recent appointment of Montenegro's first ambassador to Israel who will serve in a non-residential capacity.
"I hope that soon we will have a real embassy of Montonegro in Israel, and maybe one day, an embassy of Israel here," Yosef Levy said.
Earlier this year, the Jewish community received a plot of land of 2,000 square metres from the government in the center of Podgorica to build a synagogue and a Jewish cultural center.
Montenegro’s Prime Minister recalls that his country was one of the few countries in Europe that had very good relations with the Jewish people during WWII. "The country is developing as a strong multi-ethnic and tolerant model in the region," he says.