At the session of the United Nations General Assembly, the President of Montenegro, Milo Djukanovic, recalled that this year Montenegro marked 15 years since the restoration of independence and the time when the Montenegrin flag was flown for the first time at the East River.
“We have come a long way from the act of admission, which was the broadest confirmation of the recognition of restored statehood, positioning Montenegro in the main directions of the UN and key foreign policy partners, to today’s visibility, recognition and affirmation that far exceeds the size of the country. That journey has never been easy. Especially not in the Balkans, which, burdened by the past, does not cease to be a place of confrontation of opposing interests, geostrategic competitions, an eternal object of concern of various international participants, but not always necessary and timely attention”, he pointed out.
He warned that the challenges and threats to multiethnic democracy in the Balkans are no less today.
“The Western Balkans is again the scene of conflicting geopolitical interests, which have resulted in a slowdown in the integration of Western Balkan societies into their natural European environment, an undermining of trust and a delay in the adoption of European values. This confusion not only leads to stagnation and further lag in the development of this European region, but also opens space for the restoration of destructive theories that due to backwardness this region cannot live as a multiethnic and multi-religious community, nor ensure the functioning of states. Such a constructed thesis is especially intended to be imputed to Bosnia-Herzegovina, but also to other smaller countries in the region, in order to create an alibi for the renewal of large-scale nationalist projects that led to war in this area in the 1990s with nearly 150,000 human casualties”, President Djukanovic said.
He noted that the determination to oppose such retrograde and dangerous ideas has not waned.
He said that Montenegro would remain loyal to such a commitment and strongly committed to the values of multilateralism, friendly and open cooperation, further democratic consolidation and strengthening the rule of law, which will, among other things, lead to strengthening the partnership with the World Organization.
