MFA: It is necessary to adopt the budget as soon as possible, full realization of foreign policy activities and promotion of Montenegro is pending

The Proposal of the Law on Budget for the year in which we must recover country is fiscally responsible and equitable. Budget is in a front of us, and we wait for the Parliament, where we all depend on his adoption, because everything is part of the circle where one link does not function without other. Unity of institutions, Government, business community, medias, political parties and Parliament is necessary. After health and economic crisis, first test is tourism season that is on the doorstep. It will be successful only if there is solidarity, if we give our maximum, everyone from own corner.

Even that Ministry of Foreign Affairs invest all the efforts, it cannot fully realize planned activities without the budget, thus it is prevented to concretize its work and contribute to the recovery of Montenegro. By adopting the budget, this sector could give its complete contribution to the achievement of all projections that will affect the life style of all our citizens, that will help to the development of complete economy.

Afterwards, even if this year's predicted  budget means necessary for realisation of all obligation, are significantly less, Ministry of Foreign Affairs stresses that for the communication of the activities on the foreign policy plan, it is needed to adopt the budget as soon as possible.

Besides that, specific, very important activities, have been postponed because of decreased budget, now we call into question daily functioning of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and diplomatic and consular representations as advocate of country interests and representation of Montenegro, as well as providing consular services and protection of interests of our citizens abroad.

We remind that by this way the most important foreign policy activities, first of all, those related with the EU and the NATO, participation at the UN General Assembly, together with performing regular tasks in regard to bilateral and multilateral cooperation, are being disabled or have been seriously called into question. In complex international flows, Montenegro, as small state of 600.000 citizens, must have diplomacy that will protect interests of our country. Ministry will not be able to cover costs of Montenegrin presiding over Central and European Initiative (CEI), then implementing the Law on International Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid, the Action Plan for Schengen, opening of two new diplomatic and consular missions in Hague and Copenhagen, along with professionalization of diplomatic stuff. The reconstruction of objects in Skopje and Washington, preparation of project documentation and building and adaption of object in Ankara have been planned.

Not coming in all the difficulties that imply state on the edge of bankrupt, it is needed to emphasize the fact that Government chosen on December 4^th, succeeded to get sustainable public finances. This year, specific and challenging on many bases, has come to its half, and we have good budget in a front of us. As executive power, Government is aware of the responsibility and now it is on representatives of citizens to take their part of responsibility, so that development of the state could not be blocked, and it is necessary to start with realization of Government's priorities in order to overcome crisis and achieve overall recovery.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs calls on urgent adoption procedure so all sides in their sectors can plan and concretize activities without any obstacles.