Minister of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro Milan Roćen met today with Steven Allen, the Regional Director for Central and Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States.

Ministar Roćen pointed out the significance of UNICEF’s presence in Montenegro for the advancement of social politics and the protection of children’s rights, and said he was particularly pleased that the visit coincided with the marking of the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the UN Convention on the Right of the Child. Roćen and Allen agreed that Montenegro and UNICEF had excellent cooperation, and reminded of intensive mutual relations even before Montenegro’s independence.

Roćen reiterated Montenegro’s full commitment to the principles and values of the UN, indicative of which were its efforts at promoting the One UN concept, its contribution to the achievement of the MDGs, as well as other projects that were being implemented in partnership with the UN agencies. Such cooperation contributed to the fulfillment of Montenegro’s strategic goals, as well as to the promotion of European standards in its society, said Roćen.

Roćen and Allen agreed that Montenegro’s favorable position in the region could facilitate the implementation of the UN and UNICEF projects within the framework of regional initiatives.