The success proved through organizing of the first Montenegro Summer School for Young Diplomats is a confirmation of readiness of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro to keep up with regular and continuous activities not only regarding training for its diplomatic services but also in terms of development of regional initiatives and cooperation in this domain.
At the official opening in Berane, at the Memorial House of the first Montenegrin Minister of Foreign Affairs Duke Gavro Vuković H.E. Mr Milan Roćen, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro said: 'The first Montenegro Summer School of Diplomacy 'Gavro Vuković' is devoted to the challenges for diplomats, primarily from the countries of the region, and it offers a good opportunity for exchange of opinions and ideas about actual EU and NATO processes in the context of their enlargement. At the same time, this gathering is a real chance for mutual acquainting and networking of young diplomats from the region and their colleagues from the EU countries. The School is focusing on modern tendencies in diplomacy and modalities of developing professional traits of a modern diplomat that no country can do without. I hope that this year's Summer School will be the beginning of a long tradition and that our young diplomats will gather every year, to socialize and to learn from each other in such a pleasant environment. Also, I hope that there will be more countries that will express interest in sending their diplomats to this School. For starters, we are more than satisfied. Here are the attendees from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Albania and, of course, Montenegro. EU countries Italy, Slovenia and Estonia also sent their diplomats. Total number of registered participants and experienced diplomats and other eminent lecturers from Montenegro and abroad is forty.'

Ladies and gentlemen,

In late July last year, at a scientific convention dedicated to 155th anniversary of the birth of Duke Gavro Vuković, the originator of Montenegrin diplomacy and a long-standing Minister of foreign affairs of the Princedom of Montenegro, held here at his birth home, I announced that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, together with the UNDP office in Montenegro would design a summer school to be named after Gavro Vuković, intended for young diplomats from Southeast European countries. Today I have the honour, together with the head of the UNDP office, Mr Tankosić-Kelly, and the mayor of Berane, Mr Vuka Golubović, to officially open the school.

There are so many things that the Duke Gavro Vuković did for development and affirmation of Montenegro as the foremost actor, or as one of the foremost actors of his time. We should keep in mind that he appeared on the social scene as a politician and a diplomat in the period when Montenegro was showing to the world that it does not only represent a military camp but also a state, and that Montenegrins are not only soldiers but citizens as well. Even then, late in 19th Century and early in 20th Century he understood international relations and their reflections on a small country like Montenegro.

Your Excellencies,
Dear Mayor of Berane Municipality,
Dear Mr Bibović,
Dear participants of the Montenegro Diplomatic Summer School,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am pleased to say - sharing the opinion of the Montenegrin and foreign diplomats who contributed to the work of the Montenegrin school for young diplomats - that we are on the right track and that this project confirmed fully the need and the reasons that brought about its initiation.