Montenegro joins and supports Joint Statement on Syria

Podgorica, Montenegro (11 September 2013) -- Montenegro joins and supports the Joint Statement on Syria, adopted on the margins of the G20 Meeting in Saint Petersburg on 6 September 2013 by the United States and ten other countries*, whereas 15 countries joined the statement ever since.

The statement strongly condemns the use of chemical weapons in the suburbs of Damascus, which, according to the evidence gathered so far, is believed to have been committed by the Syrian regime.

In line with Montenegro’s previous positions, we wish to support international efforts to bring about a common response to this crime against humanity, which would ensure that a similar incident should never happen again and that those who have committed it should be held responsible.

Montenegro fully shares the views expressed in the statement that there is a need to “seek a peaceful political settlement through full implementation of the 2012 Geneva Communique”, meaning through the strongest possible consensus in the UN Security Council, after the recent report of the UN investigative/expert team, in order to reinforce the prohibition on the use of chemical weapons.

Montenegro’s position is also fully consistent with the statement made by EU High Representative Catherine Ashton following the meeting of EU foreign ministers in Vilnius on 7 September 2013.

*Australia, Canada, France, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of Montenegro