Montenegro-UN partnership strong contribution to achieving integration agenda, UN standards

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Podgorica, Montenegro (12 March 2014) -- Seventh meeting of the oversight committee for monitoring the implementation of the integrated cooperation programme of Montenegro and the UN 2010-2016, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Igor Lukšić and UN Resident Coordinator Rastislav Vrbensky, took place in Podgorica earlier today.

The completion of the UN eco-building will certainly contribute to our country’s broad recognition in the region and the world, but also to the vision of “One UN” – which is the goal of the integrated programme and the Delivering as One concept, Deputy Prime Minister Lukšić said.

Mr Lukšić underlined that the cooperation between Montenegro and the UN system is a good practice example for the region’s countries undergoing the integration processes. He noted that this constructive partnership has provided an important support to our country’s development, our success in meeting the integration agenda, and progress in applying UN standards in various areas. Mr Lukšić noted that these newly created conditions will enable coordination of all UN activities under a single roof, and will also help strengthen the partnership and inter-agency and inter-departmental cooperation in all aspects, which in turn will allow the UN to contribute more to Montenegro in meeting our development priorities and implementing various activities on our European path.

UN Resident Coordinator in Montenegro Rastislav Vrbensky thanked the Government representatives for the excellent cooperation in pursuing the UN integrated programme, and he presented concrete results achieved in 2013. He welcomed the cooperation between the Government and the UN system, and noted that over 12 million USD was used for implementing various projects in 2013, and added that the projects planned for 2014 will amount to 13.3 million USD.

The fact that the first official meeting being held in the newly opened UN eco-building is the meeting of the oversight committee for monitoring the implementation of the integrated cooperation programme has particular symbolic value for the successful cooperation within the UN reform agenda Delivering as One, Mr Vrbensky said.
Resident Coordinator Vrbensky reiterated that the Delivering as One framework has proved to be very efficient and has allowed the UN system to join forces in order to help Montenegro achieve its national priorities, first of which is EU accession.

The meeting adopted the 2014 annual work plan and presented the 2013 activities in the three cooperation pillars: social inclusion, democratic governance, and sustainable economic development and environmental protection.

The meeting took place at the new UN seat in Podgorica, and it marked Montenegro’s success, which only a few other countries have made, in meeting all four components of integrated action within the Delivering as One concept: one programme, one leader, one budget framework, and one office.