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At UN Montenegro cities importance of rule of law, regional cooperation

Prime Minister Milo Ðukanovic of Montenegro.
UN Photo/Ryan Brown
Prime Minister Milo Ðukanovic of Montenegro.

At UN Montenegro cities importance of rule of law, regional cooperation

Expressing strong commitment to regional cooperation, Milo Djukanovic, Prime Minister of Montenegro told the United Nations General Assembly today that his country is successfully implementing internal reforms necessary for the achievement of its main foreign policy priorities - membership in the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

Expressing strong commitment to regional cooperation, Milo Djukanovic, Prime Minister of Montenegro told the United Nations General Assembly today that his country is successfully implementing internal reforms necessary for the achievement of its main foreign policy priorities - membership in the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

Montenegro is working diligently to achieve MDGs and is now close to their achievement. Looking ahead to the post-2015 development agenda, the Prime Minister told the Assembly's 68th session that sustainable development goals must be clear, universal, flexible and coherent.

In this connection, Mr. Djukanovic told delegations that his country is setting up a Centre for Sustainable Development, and expects it to become operational in early 2014, and expressed hope that it would take on a regional role

Reforms in the field of the rule of law, protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as steps under way to improve the situation of the Roma people, are some of the priority areas for Montenegro, said Mr. Djukanovic.

In the area of disarmament, the Prime Minister told delegations that his country has from the outset firmly supported a comprehensive and strong wording of the Arms Trade Treaty and was among the first 65 countries to sign it.

Turning to the crisis in Syria, the Prime Minister welcomed the agreement reached between the United States and Russia on ensuring international control and destruction of Syria’s chemical weapons stockpiles, and said it "gives us hope of a diplomatic solution" through resolute action of the Security Council.

Stating that the Syrian case, among others, highlights the importance of preventive measures, the Prime Minister went on to say that Montenegro supports promoting the “responsibility to protect” concept and its operationalization.

Overall UN reform, especially the reform and reorganization of the Security Council, “will strongly contribute to strengthening the position, relevance and authority of the Organization itself and will bring it into harmony with modern geo-political processes and challenges,” he said.