Statement by Prime Minister Zeljko Sturanovic marking June 20 World Day of Refugees

The marking of June 20 the World Day of Refugees gives us an opportunity to recall, once again, the difficult times in our recent past when Montenegro with its open-door policy accepted tens of thousands of refugees and displaced persons from war-ravaged regions of the former Yugoslavia, to consider the present situation and continue working towards a permanent solution to the problem of refugees and displaced persons. At that time, Montenegro demonstrated the highest degree of humanism, understanding and sympathy for a large number of people, who unwillingly and through no choice of their own found themselves in distress.

In 1999 alone, more than 130.000 refugees and displaced persons resided in Montenegro, which was more than 20% of its population. In accordance with its economic and social capacity, Montenegro provided adequately for those persons, enabling them to get back into the stream of life and at least partly normalize their lives in the new circumstances. State institutions are open to refugees and displaced persons providing them with equal rights to those of the local population, in terms of schooling their children, further education, health care, right to work and other elements of a normal life, except in cases of special needs.

According to current information, there are 24,000 refugees in Montenegro, which is nearly 4% of the population.
Montenegro is strategically committed to finding a permanent solution to the problem of refugees and displaced persons. In the circumstances of Montenegros independence, the issue of refugees and displaced persons is dealt with on a much more solid and wider basis of legal options, through legislative compliance with European and international documents and standards on the issue.
We are confident that we will have the support of both the international community, through different forms of assistance, and the displaced persons and refuges, through their own active participation in resolving their problems.

I believe that the years to come will see a considerable decline in the number of refugees and displaced persons and that their problems will be properly resolved, confirming Montenegros serious commitment to this issue and the joint efforts in resolving the problem of displacement.