Montenegro, 2010

It is a great pleasure for me

to address this distinctive forum, which continues to

bring together the most responsible people, committed

to achieving and protecting the common good, peace

and stability. This meeting also confirms the

irreplaceable role of the United Nations in the

international community and the respect in which it is

held.

Following the valuable contribution made by the

previous President of the General Assembly, Mr. Ali

Abdussalam Treki, I would like to welcome the

election of Joseph Deiss as the President of the

Assembly at its sixty-fifth session, and to wish him

every success. I also pay special tribute to Secretary-

General Ban Ki-moon for his consistent reaffirmation

of the United Nations as an indispensable player in

solving crucial issues that have long been on the

international agenda, which has become more complex

and demanding than ever.

As the youngest Member of the United Nations,

Montenegro has proved itself a reliable partner in the

United Nations mission to strive for a world of peace,

security and prosperity for everyone. At the same time,

thanks to United Nations support, Montenegro has

significantly enhanced its standing in international

organizations, while ensuring the quality of reforms in

its own State and society. The current improvement in

global finances, albeit slight, shows that, in addition to

the crucial role of the largest and richest countries,

especially the Group of Eight and the Group of 20, the

United Nations is essential to actions undertaken for

the stabilization of the global economy.

Montenegro supports the pragmatic reform of the

United Nations. We also welcome the recent adoption

of General Assembly resolution 64/289 on system-wide

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coherence and the timely initiative of Assembly

President Joseph Deiss to make the theme of this year’s

general debate the reaffirmation of the central role of

the United Nations in global governance.

The protection of international peace and stability

continues to be a focus of the General Assembly

agenda. Convinced that no progress or stability can be

ensured without peace and security, Montenegro

supports and contributes to the efforts of the United

Nations in this regard, affirming the basic principles of

the United Nations Charter relating to the peaceful

settlement of disputes through diplomatic channels.

Mindful of our foreign policy priorities of

European and Euro-Atlantic integration, when

considering and taking any concrete action concerning

conflict zones in the framework of the United Nations,

Montenegro harmonizes its policy with European

Union foreign policy, taking due account of specific

national interests. We are best able to contribute by

continuing to play a constructive role as a stabilizing

factor in the international community, especially in the

Western Balkans and South-East Europe.

We strongly support United Nations efforts in

implementation of the Global Counter-Terrorism

Strategy, and we welcome the idea of more intensive

activities in the preparation and drafting of a United

Nations convention on international terrorism.

Montenegro is of the opinion that only through the

coordinated efforts of the international community can

global terrorism be defeated. We support the various

United Nations documents on the fight against

corruption, organized crime, illicit traffic in narcotic

drugs and trafficking in human beings.

Montenegro has fully committed itself to

implementing all international legal instruments

fostering disarmament and arms control. We support

any new constructive initiative aimed at strengthening

international cooperation for the reduction and

elimination of all types of arms and lethal weapons.

Montenegro deeply appreciates the importance

and role of the United Nations peacekeeping mission as

a unique instrument for the creation and maintenance

of peace and peacebuilding in conflict zones. Decades-

long experience in peacekeeping operations confirms

the validity of this concept and the strategic policy of

the United Nations. Peacekeeping operations have been

successful in reducing the negative effects of conflicts

and preventing their further escalation and disruption

of regional and international peace, stability and

security.

Although a small country — and the youngest

Member of the United Nations — Montenegro fully

assumes its responsibility to contribute to the

maintenance of peace and stability, as is demonstrated

by our continuously enhanced participation. We will

make further contributions in line with international

efforts and in keeping with our tradition, the

Principality of Montenegro having, as a sovereign

State, participated in the international peacekeeping

mission back in 1897.

Montenegro believes in the crucial importance of

the Millennium Declaration (resolution 55/2) and of

achieving the Millennium Development Goals

(MDGs). We are sure that this aim will be furthered by

the exchange of views and recommendations at the

recent High-level Plenary Meeting on the Millennium

Development Goals, and Montenegro supports the

implementation of all relevant strategies, programmes

and initiatives of the United Nations in this regard. The

crisis has also brought home to us the necessity of

further realizing the sustainable development concept,

which requires a balance between economic and social

development and environmental protection. To this

end, we remain committed to the resolutions of the

United Nations and the Commission on Sustainable

Development, which have also been fully reflected in

the Millennium Declaration of 2000.

Montenegro supports the ongoing efforts and

attention of the United Nations to the current

challenges in Africa. To this end, the fulfilment of the

MDGs and the implementation of all United Nations

documents, including the Millennium summit

decisions, is of crucial importance.

As a country engaged in the process of European

integration, Montenegro supports partnership

relationships between the European Union and Africa,

as well as efforts undertaken to solve development

challenges and eradicate poverty on the African

continent.

In the context of climate change and its adverse

effects, we are fully committed to finding a common

response in accordance with the United Nations

Framework Convention on Climate Change. We are

deeply committed to this end, in view of the effects of

the natural disasters that occurred in the past year

causing heavy loss of life and enormous material

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damage, in particular the earthquake in Haiti and the

floods in Pakistan. Therefore, a global response and

action is required, and not only at the humanitarian

level. Efforts aimed at reducing the effects of natural

disasters and at the rebuilding and further development

of affected regions and countries are also necessary.

In order to act responsibly with respect to the

complex issue of climate change, we have established,

together with neighbouring countries and countries

from the region, a regional forum in Montenegro which

deals with the prevention of climate change and related

challenges at the national and regional levels.

Montenegro is fully dedicated to the promotion

and universal protection of human rights and

fundamental freedoms for everyone. We strongly

support the activities of the Human Rights Council and

the Office of the High Commissioner for Human

Rights, including their more intensive functional

interaction with the General Assembly and relevant

Committees.

We believe in the potential and capacities of the

United Nations, especially when strengthened by the

active participation and robust contributions of each

Member State, to find adequate responses and take

actions aimed at resolving the ever-increasing global

challenges. As an institution dedicated to individuals

and humankind collectively, which continues to affirm

peace and prosperity, the United Nations remains of

irreplaceable global value, and Montenegro is proud to

belong to it.

I assure the Assembly that Montenegro will

continue to give its strong support to strengthening and

upholding the United Nations, so that the latter may

improve its efficiency, responsibility and readiness to

meet the needs of each Member State.