PM Lukšić, OSCE Mission's Adomavicius expect elections to be fair and democratic

• Government willing to communicate with international observers and representatives of political parties

Podgorica, Montenegro (26 September 2012) – Prime Minister Igor Lukšić met Tuesday with Ambassador Sarunas Adomavicius, Head of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, to discuss cooperation and future projects relevant to strengthening democracy and the overall Montenegro’s progress.

The Prime Minister thanked Ambassador Adomavicius on his personal and professional contribution to reform processes in Montenegro, expressing belief that the positive trend of Montenegro-OSCE cooperation will be continued through the EU accession negotiations.

Montenegro is to face numerous challenges in meeting its European and Euro-Atlantic agenda and it requires partners who has confirmed their role through the long-term cooperation, PM Lukšić emphasised.

Ambassador Adomavicius pointed out that Montenegro has accomplished a lot, satisfied with being a participant of the process that resulted in the opening of accession talks with the EU.

He commended the achieved results and the cooperation in strenghtening the rule of law, police and judiciary reform, fight against corruption and organised crime, reform of election legislation, resolving the issue of refugees and displaced persons.

The two officials voiced expectation that the upcoming elections will be fair and democratic, in line with international standards and with full respect for the will of the citizens.

The campaign that challenges the legitimacy of the upcoming elections has been conducting, PM Lukšić said. Stressing that these accusations are completely unfounded, he announced that in the coming days line ministries will hold meetings with the OSCE Observation Mission and ambassadors of EU members states and the USA to present them convincing arguments related to the arbitrary views expressed in public.

Democratic elections are the foundation of any democratic society and Montenegro, as well, as a country that began the accession negotiations in June. Consequently, it is the Government’s greatest interest to preserve this achievement. In that regard, PM Luksić voiced his willingness to communicate with international observers and representatives of political parties as well.