Montenegro to abstain from vote on Palestinian status at United Nations

“Montenegro will abstain from a vote on the resolution raising the Palestinian status at the United Nations from an observer to a non-member observer country. Our position does not mean our neutrality on the delicate issue with possible complex consequences, but is based on our deep belief that every issue from a multilayer Israeli-Palestinian and Middle East peace package should be resolved in a spirit of understanding, rather than causing new divisions and differences. Our own historical experience made us believe in the supremacy of negotiations and agreements.

Montenegro remains deeply committed and dedicated to all peace efforts, and strongly supports the achievement of a comprehensive, lasting and viable solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict on the basis of the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council and the General Assembly, as well as other relevant mechanisms and agreements, with the goal of fully protecting the both sides interests, the legitimate Palestinian aspiration for achieving statehood, as well as Israeli aspirations for the security of their own country.

Montenegro believes that the direct negotiations, conducted in an atmosphere of political willingness for compromise and mutual understanding and trust, is the best way to come to an agreement and mutually acceptable solution to the decades-old conflict."