OSCE Chairperson Dačić commends Government’s reform agenda as he visits Mission to Montenegro

PODGORICA, 17 February 2015 – OSCE Chairperson in Office and Serbia’s Foreign Minister Ivica Dačić today conveyed his full support for the Government’s reforms and commended progress achieved towards the country’s strategic objective of Euro-Atlantic integration, urging it to make the most of OSCE support in key areas such as rule of law, justice and combating corruption and organized crime.

The Western Balkans were at the forefront of Serbia’s 2015 Chairmanship priorities, Dačić said:  “In these testing times for the international community, it is important to draw lessons from the past and reflect upon them. The countries in our region are well placed to identify valuable lessons from conflict and transition relevant to today’s challenges.”

“Reconciliation and rebuilding trust is the guiding theme of the Serbian Chairmanship. We will continue to pursue this aim with the assistance of the OSCE Special Representative for the Western Balkans, Ambassador Gérard Stoudmann,” said Dačić.

Dačić also welcomed the country’s support for the 2014 Declaration on the role of the state in addressing the issue of people missing as a consequence of armed conflict and human rights abuses and for its commitment to the regional housing programme for refugees. “Improving living conditions in the region is a goal we all share, especially for those who still find themselves displaced,” he said.

Montenegro's government expressed their full support for Serbia’s Chairmanship and confirmed Montenegro’s contribution towards achieving the priorities of the Chairmanship, particularly in strengthening co-operation in the Western Balkans. "You can count on our full suport in implementing this and other priorities of the Chairmanship," said Milo Đukanović, Montenegro's Prime Minister.

The Head of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, Ambassador Janina Hrebickova, said: "Our Mission will continue to use its substantial expertise in support of the country’s reform and the priorities of Serbia´s Chairmanship, reaching out to local partners in order to achieve the best results."

During his visit, Dačić met President Filip Vujanović, Prime Minister Milo Đukanović, Parliament Speaker Ranko Krivokapić, and Igor Lukšić, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration.