Prime Minster Milo Djukanovic met today with Head of the International Committee of the Red Cross Delegation to Serbia-Montenegro Geoffrey Loane

Montenegrin Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic met today in Podgorica with Geoffrey Loane, Head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Delegation to Serbia Montenegro. Mr. Loane is making a farewell visit to the Republic of Montenegro, which concludes his mission in the state union. He introduced Cristian Bruner, the future chief of the ICRC delegation to Serbia-Montenegro.

The meeting featured a discussion about social and humanitarian situation in Montenegro and the activities of the International Committee of the Red Cross on the settlement of specific social and humanitarian issues.

Prime Minister Djukanovic gave recognition to the ICRC and the head of the ICRC Delegation Mr. Loane in person, for the efforts made in resolving the problems of the poorest strata of the society, refugees and displaced persons who took refuge in the Republic. The ICRC promised to continue providing urgent aid to specific categories of the socially handicapped and the persons situated in collective housing centers.

The meeting participants stressed the importance of defining a strategy for permanent settlement of the issues related to refugees and displaced persons, as well as the building of the Red Cross headwaters and the adoption of the Law on the Red Cross, which would regulate the status and the activities of this organization. The ICRC made considerable contribution in that respect.

Prime Minister Djukanovic and Mr. Loane agreed about the necessity of synchronizing the efforts made by the international community in resolving pressing issues and development problems in the Republic. Coordinated action taken by international institutions, such as the UN High Commission for Refugees, Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe, etc., would create conditions for the restructuring of the support, bringing development projects into the limelight. That would stimulate the integration of the socially handicapped population into the economic and social system of the Republic.