Welcome to Montenegro. It is a pleasure to greet you here in Budva, the tourist capital of Montenegro.

I would particularly like to greet the representative of the OSCE Chairman in Office Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Asta Skaisgiryte Liauskiene, the OSCE Secretary-General Mr. Lamberto Zannier, President of the Parliamentary Assembly Mr. Petros Efthymiou, Head of the OSCE Task Force, Representative of the Chairmanship of the Mediterranean Contact Group Ambassador Frank Cogan, the Head of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro Ambassador Sarunas Adomavicius, as well as the representatives of other international and regional organizations and initiatives.

Montenegro, as the youngest OSCE participating state, is honored to be the host of this year's Mediterranean Conference. The current topics to be discussed here confirm that the moment is right for this important event. I believe we have also chosen the right venue – this is one of the most beautiful parts of our Mediterranean coast, where we can exchange opinions on challenges and the outlooks for the future of the Mediterranean region. I am certain that this format provides a broad framework for open discussion and for defining the priorities of our future cooperation.

Issues incorporated in our agenda are very complex and have a transnational dimension. The processes in the European south neighborhood and the Middle East have strong repercussions not only for the security of the Mediterranean, but of Europe and the world as well. Therefore it is natural that the OSCE, alongside with other international partners, with its extensive experience and capacities, becomes engaged in all the phases of the process and assists in seeking the adequate answers and solutions for many open issues, in cooperation with the Mediterranean partners.

All of us in the Western Balkans know best how much the international assistance and support mean in such situations, especially when it comes from a credible organization such as the OSCE. Through the process transition we have created conditions for democratic development, building of society of the rule of law and freedoms, efficient functioning of state institutions, for adopting values which are a personification of modern European and world civilization. We would like to believe, and I am sure all of us would like to assist, so that our Mediterranean friends use and direct changes towards stability, economic and overall prosperity of their societies. In this vein, I would like to commend the efforts of the Lithuanian Chairmanship as well as the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, who have largely contributed to the raising of awareness of the Mediterranean dimension of OSCE, both in the Organization itself and in the partner Mediterranean countries.

Montenegro is a small Mediterranean country, proud of its multiethnic and multi-religious harmony, which we cherish as our most valuable asset. For this reason, we are recognized in all European centers as a successful European story and a country of good news from the Balkans. Through preserving diversity of our cultural and historical heritage, we also promote the OSCE principles and norms of equality, tolerance, non-discrimination, protection of human and minority rights and freedoms...

Montenegro is respected as a factor of stability in the region, a candidate country for the EU and NATO. We are expecting positive opinion of the European Commission on October 12 and a recommendation for setting the date of the accession negotiations for the EU membership. The results achieved are not only an accomplishment of the Government and public administration, but of both ruling and the opposition parties, the NGOs, social partners, media, civil society as a whole. In mid October we will start the second annual cycle in NATO MAP. Our efforts and the results we achieve on our path to the EU and NATO recommend us as serious and credible partner of the international community in strengthening the stability and security in Europe and at global level, regardless of the size of our country.

Montenegro is fully dedicated to the strengthening of good-neighborly relations and regional cooperation. We have no open issues with our neighbors. We have reinforced our capacities through the successful chairmanship of various regional initiatives – Central European Initiative, South-East Europe Cooperation Process, the Adriatic-Ionian Initiative, US-Adriatic Charter, Sub-regional Consultative Commission on the implementation of the Article IV of the Dayton Agreement.... During our Presidency of the SEECP we have adopted a Regional Strategy for fight against corruption and organized crime, which is unique in Europe. Our region, which has always been a polygon for conflicts and ethnic clashes throughout history, has now become an exporter instead of an importer of security. Through all forms of cooperation, including the parliamentary one, we have proven to ourselves and to our international partners that we are all together, and as individual countries, reliable partners to Europe and the international community.

Current processes in the world which we are witnessing and participating in, as well as the new challenges that we are facing, have reaffirmed that the role of the OSCE is of great importance for the stability of Europe, Euro-Mediterranean, Euro-Atlantic and Eurasian area – from Vancouver to Vladivostok. As a host country of an OSCE Mission we can testify to this. The activities of the Mission in all three dimensions are an integral part of all our successes. I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to OSCE for its valuable contribution in building the democratic institutions, strengthening the rule of law and prompting overall reforms in Montenegro. The OSCE Mission provides immense support in the realization of our strategic integration goals. By incorporating the key OSCE principles in our system laws and practices, we have demonstrated our dedication to the standards and commitments of the Organization. The progress we achieved in fulfilling our strategic goals is to a large extent a result of good cooperation we have had with the OSCE and its institutions, especially ODIHR.

I believe this kind of cooperation and support provided by the OSCE and other international partners can be of great use for all the Mediterranean countries. Montenegro stands ready to share its experience with everyone interested. We will continue to be proactive in the promotion of peace, stability and prosperity in our region, the Mediterranean and in Europe, through various initiatives aimed at building confidence and security which contribute to strengthening of dialogue. This Conference is yet another opportunity to agree on future common activities and further promote the OSCE.

I whish you a successful work and a pleasant stay in Montenegro.

Thank you for your attention!