PM Krivokapić meets with OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Kairat Abdrakhmanov

Prime Minister Zdravko Krivokapić hosted today OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Kairat Abdrakhmanov, who is paying an official visit to Montenegro.

Prime Minister Krivokapić noted that the visit of High Commissioner Abdrakhmanov is very important, especially because of the fact that the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities is paying an official visit to Montenegro for the first time.

Prime Minister Krivokapić also thanked the OSCE High Commissioner for positive assessment of inter-ethnic relations in Montenegro, as well as for recognising Montenegro as an example to other countries in the Western Balkans.

The Prime Minister informed Mr. Abdrakhmanov about Government's cooperation with six national minority councils, which are financed from the budget, adding that the Government estimates that the Roma Council currently deserves its special attention.

Prime Minister Krivokapić pointed out that Montenegro, in the complex global situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, is taking strong socio-economic and political steps in order to accelerate its decade-long European path. He added that strengthening good neighbourly relations and promoting tolerance policies, dialogue and balance is one of the Government's priorities.

Our policy is based on zero tolerance for all types of discrimination. That is why the staffing in this Government was carried out on an expert basis, said PM Krivokapić.

OSCE High Commissioner Kairat Abdrakhmanov expressed satisfaction with Montenegro's commitment to its European path. Commissioner Abdrakhmanov said that he perceived Montenegro as a "bright star" on this path when it comes to relations with minorities, ethnic and religious communities, and that the OSCE expressed full support for the work of Prime Minister Krivokapić and the Government.

The High Commissioner praised the Prime Minister's openness to the media and the policy of peace and tolerance he promotes, and said that he sees Montenegro as a country he wants to learn from, especially when the focus is on examples and practices related to the Western Balkans.

Emphasising the OSCE's motto of "leaving no one behind", Abdrakhmanov pointed out that he was familiar with the Government's latest programmes aimed at the socio-economic recovery of Montenegro.

I have been informed about your programmes aimed at attracting foreign investors in order to improve the living standards, with an emphasis on supporting the education system. I support you and I wish you a lot of success, Abdrakhmanov said, reiterating that Prime Minister Krivokapić and the Government of Montenegro can count on OSCE's full support.