Marković - Pesko: Rule of law, economic security and democratisation of society in focus of current and future government's work

Podgorica, Montenegro (7 April 2016) -- Deputy Prime Minister Duško Marković hosted earlier today Director of the OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre Marcel Pesko. DPM Marković expressed gratitude for the support for the multiyear process of improving democracy, transparency and the rule of law in Montenegro, stressing that the visit of its senior official comes at the moment when Montenegro is marking the 10th anniversary of the restoring independence.

"The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe was not only an observer, but an active participant in the total transformation of Montenegro over the past decade and longer. During that time, Montenegro managed through its continuous, objective and inclusive approach, to establish the necessary level of trust with the OSCE," said the Deputy Prime Minister.

Mr Marković emphasised that Montenegro recognised all the major challenges of the contemporary social moment and successfully weathered them, and that they are part of results achieved in the field of European and NATO integration.

"The number of the open chapters in which we demonstrated the seriousness of the state policy is the result of our total social potentials, and all the stakeholders monitoring our democratic transformation agree on that issue," noted DPM Marković.

Director Pesko said that the OSCE will continue to pursue its agenda in all areas in which Montenegro needs support, recognising ten years of independence as a framework for the creation of new tracks of cooperation between Montenegro and the OSCE.

Regarding the results of the EU and NATO integration, Mr Pesko pointed out that the evident progress of Montenegro is the success of the OSCE at the same time, and that the organisation appreciates the manner in which Montenegro recognises the role of the OSCE in the creation of democratic processes. He also expects the Government and other political stakeholders to build political environment that will allow the maintenance of credible elections in this October.

Deputy Prime Minister Marković informed Mr Pesko about the current situation related to the political agreement, which will allow the opposition to participate in the Government, state authorities and institutions, which will undoubtedly be the precursor of a new political practice in the region and beyond.

"The most responsible political stakeholders have already contributed to successfully responding to developing democracy in Montenegro. The fulfillment of major objectives at internal legal and political levels confirms the credibility of the state and its institutional capacity, and opens up an new horizon for the comprehensive aspects in the field of rule of law, economic security and democratisation of the society, which is a broad field of action of this and future Government," said Mr. Marković.

The two officials agreed that the OSCE has made a concrete contribution to raising the level of competence and effectiveness of the State Election Commission and other authorities for the implementation of electoral procedures, and that functional redefinition of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro is going to happen soon in order to provide an advanced level of institutional strengthening in the fields of the rule of law, economy and stability.

Head of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro Janina Hrebickova also attended the meeting.