ROVČANIN: EPCG CONDEMNS HATE SPEECH

Regarding the media headlines anent the comments written at social media Facebook by a person emloyed in EPCG, I, as a Company's CEO, find it necessary to inform the public about the following:

I strongly condemn the hate speech irregardless of the fact who, when and where it came from. Montenegro is a coutry inhabited by people of different confessions, nationalities and orientations and thereby I am of the opinion that we all must take care of respecting the integrity and identity of others.

Pursuant to the Code of Ethics, the employed in EPCG are obliged to follow the rules of etiquette either when they are at their working positions or in their free time. This principle refers to both the social and public media and thereby it is utterly unacceptable of a person employed with EPCG to give rise or create any inappropriate content in any place or at any occasion, especially the content with hate speech elements.

EPCG, as a Company of a significant economic interest to the State, is strongly committed to socially responsible activities and respects by all means any person’s freedom of expression including the freedom of its employees, but as stated previously condemns and dissociates, without exception, from any act contrary to provisions of the Code of Ethics and regulations governing this area. As for the EPCG all citizens enjoy equal rights.

The comments at issue have been published on a private profile and therefore don’t reflect in any way the attitude of EPCG.

Despite the fact that EPCG bears no responsibility for the comments at issue, I, as a CEO, feel the need to apologize to everybody who have linked those comments to our Company.

I have informed the members of the EPCG Ethic Committee about the breach of work obligations in this particular case, and as soon as I get their opinion I shall take further steps in line with the Statute of our Company.

I would like to inform everybody that EPCG will continue to act towards the welfare of entire society. Neither the Company nor I will ever encourage any act or take part in any action that could in any way be qualified as hate speech or discrimination of any individual or group inside or outside Montenegro.