Deputy Prime Minister Igor Lukšić meets with UN Deputy Secretary General Jan Eliasson

Podgorica, Montenegro (11 March 2014) -- Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of European Integration and European Integration Igor Lukšić met earlier today with Deputy Secretary General of the UN Jan Eliasson.

Mr Eliasson said that Montenegro is an important UN partner and he congratulated Montenegro on being a regional leader in European integration. He underlined that the entire region may benefit from Montenegro’s experience and underlined Montenegro’s role in the region, its UN-related activities, and especially its participation in the UN Human Rights Council. For a country’s development, the key preconditions are stability, respect for human rights, and strong institutions, all of which contribute to economic development, said Eliasson.

Cooperation with the UN and multilateralism in general are among the priorities of Montenegro’s foreign policy, Mr Lukšić said. He noted that Montenegro’s commitment to the UN fundamental values and its observance of the UN Charter and its international commitments, alongside building and preserving world peace and meeting the Millennium Development Goals, are the key avenues of Montenegro’s activity within the UN system.

Deputy Prime Minister Lukšić informed his interlocutor of the current state of affairs as regards European and Euro-Atlantic agenda, regional developments, and Montenegro’s endeavours in strengthening regional dialogue and promoting project-oriented cooperation with the view to improving regional cooperation towards ensuring an improved quality of life for citizens.

The two officials welcomed the completion of the UN eco-building, a project that has confirmed that the UN views Montenegro as a responsible and credible partner, and they noted Montenegro’s commitment to the values of sustainable and ecologic development.