Letter of Intention by University and Government of Montenegro to Government of France: Montenegro to be the place for the regional center for cyber security and fight against the cybercrime

Rector of the University of Montenegro, Prof. Dr. Vladimir Božović, and Deputy Prime Minister Dritan Abazović, signed the Letter of Intention where they have expressed their readiness and aspiration to locate the Regional Center for cyber security and fight against the cybercrime in Montenegro, and addressed to the Government of France. The Letter of Intention was presented and handed to the Ambassador of the France to Montenegro, H.E. Christian Thimonier, at the meeting held today in the Rectorate of the University of Montenegro.

The Center is the outcome of the Cyber Balkan project of the French Center for Expertise of Security in South-East Europe, initiated by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs.   

Rector Božović said that it is a mutual interest of the University and Government of Montenegro to have the Center located in Montenegro, and that the University is ready to provide support, both in infrastructure and human resources. In that sense, he added, the academic community would give its full potential and participate as a strong partner in realization of this project.

Deputy Prime Minister Abazović said that the competition is strong, that other states will also apply, but that he believes that Montenegro is the ideal place.

„If the University of Montenegro would host this Center, I think that it would be a great direction towards the future development of our scientists, our people, and recognition of Montenegro in the region as the place which gathers the best IT experts and train them within that context. I believe that the Government of France will recognize that we have at least one comparative advantage more than other states in the region“, said Abazović.

He expressed his content that the University and Embassy of France to Montenegro have recognized that all capacities are raised in Montenegro regarding what our future is, „and that future will reflect in the total progress, and there is no progress without keeping track with the technological development“.

Ambassador of France, H.E. Christian Thimonier, said that this Letter gives a new momentum to the project Cyber Security promoted by the French Government, and which will be based upon the knowledge transfer.

„Montenegro has an important role in this project due to the quality of the University of Montenegro, which could be marked as one of the possible lead partners. Also, we have to consider the choice of the location“, ambassador Thimonier said.

On behalf of the University, Dr. Andreja Mihailović from the Faculty of Law, expressed her content that the University of Montenegro and the Government of Montenegro are recognized as credible partners in realiyation of the important task of the essential significance for the whole region, such is the improvement of cyber security.

Vice rectors of the University Prof. Dr Sanja Peković and Prof. Dr Veselin Mićanović,  and Mr Cedric Grousset, advisor within the project, were also present at the meeting.