DPM Markovic: Government continues dialogue to amend Constitution, focuses on implementation of adopted legislation

Podgorica, Montenegro (7 March 2012) -- The Montenegrin Government will continue the dialogue with parliamentary opposition with the aim of adopting judiciary related Constitutional amendments, aware of their importance for further strengthening judicial independence as a prerequisite for the rule of law, Deputy Prime Minister Duško Marković told Jean-Charles Gardetto, rappourter of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly, at a meeting earlier today.

He thanked the Council of Europe on its support in Montenegro’s EU bid, also expressing content with the cooperation with the Venice Commission regarding constitutional amendments the Government initiated in June 2011 in order to advance judiciary independence, accountability and efficiency, and eliminate the possibility of political impact on its work. DPM Marković reminded of the fact that the European Commission, in its Opinion on Montenegro’s EU membership application, has not recommended to amend the Constitution, but that this initiative was a matter of political and expert assessment of the Government.

The meeting particularly focused on Montenegro’s track record in combating corruption and organised crime. By the same token, DPM Marković emphasised that Montenegro has made progress in fighting these challenges at strategic and normative, as well as institutional and operative level, adding that special attention in the coming period will be concentrated on the implementation of the adopted legislation.

As a Chairman of the Coordination Body for monitoring implementation of the Strategy for resolving refugees and displaced persons’ issue, the Deputy Prime Minister noted that Montenegro is proud of its attitude towards these people, as it provided a safe haven for people from all war-affected areas of the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s. He introduced Mr Gardetto with the methodology of addressing these issues, adding that the coordination team, in the past six months, has made major achivements which are to be recorded in the first report on the implementation of the Action plan to address the status of these persons.

The two officials also discussed the issues related to the rights of LGBT population and promotion of media freedom in Montenegro.