UN Session: Montenegro among 46 Open Government Partnership states, vow greater transparency and empowering citizens

New York, USA (22 September 2011) – Prime Minister Igor Lukšić, representing Montenegro at the 66th Session of the UN General Assembly, took part yesterday in the inaugural meeting of an important initiative on government transparency and citizens’ involvement in policy-making.

Montenegro joined an important project founded by governments of Brazil, Indonesia, Mexico, Norway, Philippines, South Africa, United Kingdom, United States and initiated by US President Obama and Brazil’s President Rouseff dubbed Open Government Partnership (OGP). The OGP is a global effort to promote “more transparent, effective and accountable governments -- with institutions that empower citizens and are responsive to their aspirations.”

Prime Minister Lukšić said he is proud that Montenegro is among the 46 states that have taken part in this important initiative and underlined that now a great deal of commitment is required. He explained that the areas OGP is concerned with correspond with Montenegro’s policies and include creating preconditions for enhanced transparency, closer cooperation with the civil society and “participation of the civil society in the creation of public policies,” including a greater role for the NGOs in the EU-accession process.

He stressed that this is something “Montenegro has been doing in the previous period and is also a criterion of cooperation with the EU” and he concluded that this is “a very welcome initiative which we will gladly accept.” PM Lukšić added that the OGP activities will contribute to the overall development of society, not least by improving the business environment and impeding corruption.