Interior Ministers Nuhodžić, Minnitti: Italy will continue to support Montenegro's reform in rule of law

Podgorica, Montenegro (24 October 2017) -- Minister of the Interior Mevludin Nuhodžić and Director of the Police Directorate Slavko Stojanović  participated today at a ministerial conference in Trieste, marking the closure of the IPA 2013 regional project – Fight Against Organised Crime: International Cooperation in Criminal Justice. The conference was hosted by the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Italy in cooperation with the European Commission.

Minister Nuhodžić emphasised Montenegro's commitment to contribute to further strengthening of stability and security in a regional context through a number of activities in the fight against organised crime and corruption, and through continuous strengthening of capacities for conducting complex investigations. In his speech, Minister Nuhodžić announced that the additional value of the IPA 2013 project for the Western Balkans is reflected in the more intense exchange of intelligence, efficient use of special investigative methods and the establishment of joint investigation terms.

At the margins of the conference, Minister Nuhodžić met with his Italian counterpart Marco Minnitti, expressing satisfaction with the traditionally friendly relations between Montenegro and Italy, saying that the current content cooperation is a good basis for further consolidation of the interstate partnership. Minister Nuhodžić thanked Minister Minnitti for the continuing and expert support that Italy provides to Montenegro in fulfilling its obligations under the accession negotiations with the European Union, especially in the demanding areas of strengthening the rule of law. Minister Minnitti praised the progress made by the Montenegrin government on its European and Euro-Atlantic path, and in particular Montenegro's membership in the NATO alliance. He confirmed Italy's willingness to continue supporting the capacity building of law enforcement agencies in Montenegro, both bilaterally and within the framework of regional and European projects. It was jointly noted that the cooperation between two countries will be further strengthened by joint activities in the fight against illegal migration, organised crime and terrorism, as global security challenges.