Second Session of the Intergovernmental Joint Committee for the Implementation of the Agreement between the Republic of Croatia and Montenegro on the Protection of the Rights of the Croatian Minority in Montenegro and the Montenegrin Minority in the Repub

On May 24, 2017, the Second Session of the Intergovernmental Joint Committee for the Implementation of the Agreement between the Republic of Croatia and Montenegro on the Protection of Minorities Rights was held in Zagreb on May 24, 2017. Board members were appointed by the Government of the Republic of Croatia and Montenegro. They are representatives of national minorities and representatives of relevant Ministries and offices (culture, external affairs, education, internal affairs, etc.).

The session was opened by the state secretary of the Central State Office for Croats outside the Republic of Croatia, Zvonko Milaš, chairman of the Croatian part of the MMO, who stressed that the Republic of Croatia and Montenegro are among the European states that provide a very high level of minority rights in their territory in accordance with international standards for the protection of the rights of national minorities. However, no matter how good the situation is, there is always a possibility and need for improvement and development, with special attention being paid to finding the best ways to protect the extremely valuable minority material and non-material heritage. He stressed the friendly relations between the two countries, and that the Republic of Croatia, as a member of NATO and the European Union, supports the way of Montenegro to Euro-Atlantic integration.

Secretary of the Montenegrin Government's Human and Minority Rights Ministry Valon Dasharami, chair of the Montenegrin part of the MMO, expressed his satisfaction with the continuation of the efforts on improving and protecting the rights of both minorities. Mutual respect and understanding are the most important segment of every successful bilateral co-operation, and the Republic of Croatia and Montenegro are a good example of such co-operation. He also underlined the determination of the Montenegrin Government to implement a proactive policy of respect and protection of the rights of minority peoples and other minority national communities in the forthcoming period and to continue improving the existing very successful cooperation with the Republic of Croatia in this area.

The session analyzed the implementation of the adopted recommendations from the previous First Session, held in Podgorica in 2015, and considered the current issues of particular importance for both national minorities and suggested solutions that will ensure an even higher level of minority rights in both states. 

New issues were considered as the establishment of the Montenegrin Library and the Montenegrin Cultural Center in the Republic of Croatia, as well as the institutions for studying the history and culture of Croats in Montenegro, and the joint nomination of the Bokelj Navy's Cultural Heritage for the UNESCO list of non-material cultural heritage Holy Tripun will be highlighted where Saint Tripun will be prominent and that the Bokelj Navy as the non-material cultural heritage of Montenegro is also the heritage of members of the Croatian minority in Montenegro.

The second session of the Croatian-Montenegrin Intergovernmental Mixed Committee for the Protection of Minorities was held in a friendly and constructive atmosphere and it was agreed that the Third Session would be held in the first half of 2018 in Montenegro.