The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro, Milan Roćen met today with Alexander Avanessov, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Montenegro.

Roćen and Avanessov shared positive impressions about very constructive high level meetings that the Prime Minister Milo Đukanović had during the recent general debate of the 64th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York, which once again confirmed strong partnership between Montenegro and the UN. They pointed out that such an excellent cooperation would be additionally prompted by the forthcoming visit of Kori Udovički, Director of the Regional Bureau for Europe and Commonwealth of Independent States, on October 12-13.

Roćen and Avanessov discussed specific projects aimed at strengthening overall development and enhancing the living standards of the Montenegrin society. They exchanged views on the possible implementation of social and other programs for the northern region of Montenegro, primarily oriented towards strengthening entrepreneurship, small and medium enterprises, as well as local and state administration, which the Montenegrin Government would carry out together with the UNDP and the EU Commission. They also underlined the importance of cooperation in the fields of defense, environment, energy efficiency, as well as climate change, especially in the context of the forthcoming Regional Conference on Climate Change in Budva from 16-17 October, which would see the participation of UNDP high-level representatives.

Minister Roćen said the programs of the UNDP and other UN agencies represented in Montenegro were fully in line with the Government’s development strategy and its foreign policy objectives, which clearly indicated the importance of the UN presence in Montenegro. He said the Government, together with its UN partners, invested great efforts in promoting the “One UN” concept, which would be further propelled by the implementation of the Eko building project. The Minister also underlined significant help provided by the UNDP in drafting Midterm Report on MDGs.

Roćen and Avanessov agreed that Minister Rocen’s participation at the first annual conference of the International Aid Transparency Initiative in The Hague, from 20-21 October would reconfirm Montenegro’s commitment to global efforts for effective coordination of international aid, and reaffirm its role within the UN system.