Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic

Belgrade, August 31, 2001 (Beta) - Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic stated after talks with Serbian Patriarch Pavle that students' parents would be offered a choice between religious instruction and civics classes for their children, and next year the discretionary classes would be obligatory.

After yesterday's talks with Serbian Patriarch Pavle and Serbian Ministers of Religion and Education Vojislav Milovanovic and Gaso Knezevic, Djindjic explained, "It is mistaken to think that somebody would choose neither of the solutions offered," the Serbian Religion Ministry reported.

- If we need to change the law only to set this alternative - religious instruction or alternative subject - we shall do so - said Djindjic, adding that the option to take "neither" of the two subjects was "a technical detail" that needs to be cleared up.

The Prime Minister said that the latter possibility would be defined "after the law has been fully interpreted" and that "some regulations will be changed, if necessary" so that full accordance between representatives of ministries of religion and education, religious communities and the law can be achieved."

- There is no controversy. Religious instruction will be introduced as a possibility in our schools and I hope that its implementation will enrich our spiritual life in general and our school curricula - Djindjic's statement was cited as saying in the Religion Ministry's report.

Djindjic also said that preparations for introduction of new subjects "are coming along fine."

Serbian Orthodox Church stated on Friday that it agreed with Serbian government officials that religious instruction be introduced in schools as an obligatory subject in the 2001/2002 school year.