Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Milorad Šćepanović met today the Deputy Regional Director of the WHO for Europe dr Nata Menabde.

Mutual content has been expressed regarding the present cooperation between Montenegro and WHO and there has been indicated the possibility of further support of the WHO in the realization the number of projects regarding improvement of the public health, particularly in the context of fulfilling the European integration standards. Underlining the advanced made in the field of the health care system reform, and the necessity of the capacity strengthening, especially in the time of pandemic influenza A H1N1 and the impact of the world economic crisis, dr Menabde stressed out that the health issue is also political concern which requires coordinated and harmonized efforts of all actors of the international community.

The Deputy Minister Šćepanović pointed out the significance of the WHO activities and stressed out the readiness of the Government of Montenegro to give the adequate response to the efforts of WHO addressing new challenges regarding transformation of the role and the mandate, which grows ever more complex. In this context, the interlocutors spoke about signing biannual agreement on cooperation between Montenegro and WHO for 2010/2011.

The forthcoming elections of the regional director of the WHO, which will be held in December 2009, had been discussed.