PM Marković meets with Montenegrin emigrants in the USA: multiethnic and multinational diaspora is our biggest asset, goal is not to send money home than to start businesses in Montenegro

PHOTO GALLERY

Prime Minister Duško Marković told the Montenegrin diaspora in the United States of America on Thursday that it made a great contribution to today's Montenegro, thanks to the diaspora today we have a country that we are proud of and that twice as many people from Montenegro live outside the country and that multiethnic and multireligious diaspora is the biggest strength of Montenegro that should be used not for sending money to the country but for development and investment.

"If it weren't for you, if there weren't those people with you and us there on the ground, we could hardly speak today of the European and Euro-Atlantic modern Montenegro. So, great respect and thank you for everything you did then, in the toughest moments and respect for what you are doing now to make our most beautiful home to suit every citizen of Montenegro. It was a tough time. Emotions and love for the country were not enough, but the courage was also needed, the President of the Association said very modestly, especially for you who came to Montenegro to support the restoration of its statehood and for your family and friends. As you know, we did it in a dignified way, in a way that is characteristic to Montenegrins and their traditions. The restoration of our statehood was one of the most beautiful events of that time," the Prime Minister said at the meeting with Montenegrin emigrants organised by the Gusinje Foundation in New York.



The Prime Minister told our emigrants that today we all enjoy the benefits of the then decision and vision, that Montenegro is different today than it was in 2006, that in the past 12 years our country has become a member of NATO and is on its way to becoming a member of the European Union, that it is being built throughout Montenegro, that the state consolidates its finances, attracts foreign investments and enjoys a reputation in the world.

"The Gusinje Foundation is the brightest example of how to love your country," the Prime Minister said and called on the diaspora to turn to the government if in its initiatives it does not get an adequate response from the local authorities, as is often the case.



"It's not the goal to send money to your homeland, but to create such a climate in Montenegro that people start businesses and that the diaspora invests money. ... I think that you can help the Government to change the approach. They are the first to start initiatives. We have to transfer responsibility to people in municipalities to make plans to create ideas and put pressure on the government. I now say to you, there is no project that comes from a municipality that the government will not support," Prime Minister Duško Marković said to the Montenegrin diaspora.



The meeting with the representatives of our diaspora was attended by Minister of Foreign Affairs Srđan Darmanović, Permanent Representative of Montenegro to the United Nations, Ambassador Milica Pejanović Đurišić, Consul of Montenegro in New York Željko Stamatović and members of the Office of the Prime Minister who are in the Delegation of our country at the 73rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly.

PUBLIC RELATIONS SERVICE OF THE GOVERNMENT OF MONTENEGRO

PHOTO: #UNGA2018 - PM Duško Marković meets with representatives of Montenegrin diaspora in the USA

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/1JbQFiFm-K0