ADDRESS OF H.E. MR. MILAN ROĆEN, MINISTER OF FOREIGN OF MONTENEGRO AT THE OSCE MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE, Athens, December 1 2009

Mr. Chairman, Minister Papandreu,

Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I would like to thank our host Greece for their warm hospitality and express appreciation for their successful efforts in chairing the Organization. We hope that the second Ministerial meeting in the course of this year will further contribute to strengthening of common views and make our Organization stronger. Montenegro wishes to give its contribution to this goal.

The Corfu Process brings before us some old and some new challenges which we need to face in order to strengthen European and security of Transatlantic and Eurasian area. The OSCE, with its broad membership and unique concept of security represents a good forum for discussions. Comprehensive, cooperative and indivisible security is enshrined in the OSCE core documents which make a positive legacy not only of our Organization, but of the international community as a whole. Security is our shared interest, and the basic precondition for security is strengthening of trust and understanding between the partners.

The Corfu Process showed that there are issues of common interest, but that there are also different views on how to resolve them. The basis of all discussions must be respect and implementation of commitments in all dimensions and respect for shared values and principles. We believe that our Organization has adequate mechanisms and instruments to face numerous challenges. However, there is also a need to renovate them and make them more adjusted to modern context, especially in the light of new transnational threats, and in the spirit of creating a kind of OSCE +. In this sense, it is of utmost importance to strengthen early warning, conflict prevention and resolution mechanisms, as well as confidence and security building measures.

Our experience and positive role in the Western Balkans make Montenegro particularly aware of the importance of dialogue in fostering trust. The respect of diversity, promotion of multiethnic society and tolerance, as well as good-neighborly cooperation are Montenegro’s priorities.

Montenegro has made significant steps forward in Euro Atlantic integration. Liberalization of visa regime is an invaluable stimulus for Montenegro and countries of the region on our path of integration and even stronger commitment to reforms. We hope that all our neighbors will soon be included in this decision. We have prepared answers to European Commission’s Questionnaire and we expect to get an EU candidate country status next year. Montenegro also expects to enter NATO MAP. All these processes are an inseparable part of strengthening stability of our country, our region and Europe as a whole.

In the context of discussion on European security, based on our experience, I would like to point out to another efficient mechanism of the OSCE – field operations. The OSCE Mission to Montenegro is an example of a success story. It has given an important contribution to the promotion of reforms and progress of the country in fulfilling our strategic priorities. I would particularly like to emphasize our excellent long-standing cooperation with all OSCE institutions, especially ODIHR.

In regard of the future of the Corfu Process, we support the Chairmanship’s proposals for continuation of dialogue. In that sense, we support the adoption of Declaration and Decision on the Corfu Process. We are looking forward to the continuation of our discussions in Vienna. We also consider the adoption of relevant decisions in all three OSCE dimensions to be of high importance.

We are open to the possibility of convening a Summit next year. We believe that we should work together on substance which would give purpose to the organization of such meeting.

In the end, I would like to congratulate Kazakhstan on taking over the Chairmanship. We are confident that their leadership, which is a completely new experience for our Organization, would bring fresh energy in meeting common challenges.

Thank you.