Refugee issue remains high priority on Government’s agenda, UNHCR plays significant role

Podgorica, Montenegro (24 October 2013) -- According to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees’ report, Montenegro is a regional leader in terms of systematic and sustainable approach to addressing the issue of refugees and internally displaced persons, Vincent Cochetel, Director of the UNHCR Bureau for Europe, underlined at a meeting with Montenegro’s Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister Duško Marković.

DPM Marković said that this issue remains a high priority on the Government’s agenda. In recent years, significant achievements have been made, especially in terms of taking care of internally displaced persons and building an institutional and legal system in this area, he pointed out.

The two officials agreed the UNHCR has played a significant role in this regard by continuing to support the implementation of the government's policies. They also reviewed goals for the future, especially when it comes to deadlines for submission of applications for regulating legal status of the population in Montenegro.

The meeting addressed the issue of asylum and the growing number of asylum seekers in the country, but also the changed structure of the population. In that regard, the two officials reiterated the importance of strengthening the institutional mechanisms that will facilitate the registration of these persons and their treatment, but also the need to tackle these issues at both national and regional levels.

DPM Marković emphasised that the Montenegrin Government makes continuous efforts, in addition to resolving their legal status, to enable the displaced population full integration into the society, including access to housing, social rights, education and health care.