Government's team conducts crisis communication exercise

Podgorica, Montenegro (22 March 2017) – Team for the preparation of the Government of Montenegro's Draft Crisis Communication Plan conducted earlier today, with the support of experts from the United Kingdom, a crisis communication exercise, which took place at the Ministry of Defence.

State Secretary of the Ministry of Defence Slobodan Filipović and representatives of the Government’s Public Relations Service, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of the Interior and Police Authority, Ministry of Public Administration, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Transport and Maritime Affairs, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, took part in today's crisis communication exercise.

The exercise was aimed at undertaking synchronised and coordinated activities by the state authorities with a view to informing the public in a timely manner, thus preventing dissemination of misunderstandings and false information in case of a crisis.

During today's exercise - a series of cyber attacks on IT infrastructure, including the endangerment of information systems of a number of business entities that could pose a threat to the lives and property of many citizens - the crisis communication team was trained how to react in such crisis events and practically develop the draft crisis communication plan of the Government.

The Government of Montenegro set up the Team for the preparation of the Draft Crisis Communication Plan on its 15th session held on 2 March 2017 in order to coordinate actions of the state authorities aimed at providing timely and correct information to the public and prevent the dissemination of misinformation in case of a crisis event.

The exercise was designed and conducted with the support of the British Embassy to Montenegro and Ambassador Ian Witting, who engaged an Oakas company's team, headed by retired Colonel Richard Haldenby. The Oakas team also included expert for international security Thomas Owen, as well as experts in the field of strategic communications and media - retired Lt. Col. Mark Wenham and former media adviser to the UK Government Jimmy Leach.

Journalists form national broadcaster RTCG, Radio Antena M, and “Vijesti” and “Dnevne novine” dailies, also took part in the crisis simulation and made a great contribution to the successful completion of the exercise.

PUBLIC RELATIONS SERVICE OF THE GOVERNMENT