Montenegro

Joint efforts of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Capacity Development Programme to better respond to Montenegro's national priorities for European integrations

The Project „Enhancing the capacity of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to better respond to Montenegro's national priorities for European integrations” will support establishing and work of three new departments within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs relevant for effective formulating and implementation of foreign policy, as well as computer equipment procurement.

The project document was signed by H.E. Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Milan Roćen  and Mr. Garret Tankosić Kelly, UNDP Resident Representative a.i./UN Interagency Focal Point in Montenegro.

Minister Roćen said that the UNDP donation represents an excellent example of  cooperation between the Montenegrin Government and the UNDP.

«The project will help MoFA to operate in full capacity. It refers, first of all, to education and setting up of International Legal Department, Information and Culture Department and a Department for the Political Analysis,» he said.

Minister Roćen emphasized that Montenegro, as the youngest member of UN is fully devoted to the Millennium Development Goals and to all the postulates that this renowned international organization is based upon. «Although the youngest UN member, Montenegro will chair the Eastern-European UN Country Members Group in September, and yesterday the Government decided on the structure of Montenegrin delegation to attend the next regular UN Assembly Session,» he added.

Mr. Tankosić Kelly said that the newly established independence brings a lot of benefits but also responsibilities to Montenegro, one of which is to ensure that country complies with international law and standards, its legitimate interests are advanced and protected, and its voice heard and respected among partners.

“Following independence, in a very short period of time, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs needed to build proper administrative structures, but also professional diplomatic service. The progress to date is encouraging. However, further efforts are necessary in this respect.”

“We are very glad that the Ministry has recognized strengthening of its capacity to be a priority and seek the support of Capacity Development Programme for this purpose,” added Mr. Tankosić Kelly. “The International Legal Department is important because Montenegro, as a new state, has enormous obligation towards postulates of international law, including ratification and adherence to several hundreds of treaties, conventions and agreements under the auspices of UN. The Information and Culture Department should ensure that the profile and image of Montenegro are further enhanced within the international community, and the Department for the Political Analysis is needed because a modern concept of foreign affairs requires a lot of policy and analytical work in order for decision makers to bring right decisions. The UNDP expects that this project will contribute to the enunciation of clear objectives and the role of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to strengthen regional and Euro-Atlantic perspectives of the country.”

The signing was witnessed by Ms. Sanja Elezović, Director of Foundation Open Society Institute - Representative Office Montenegro.