Montenegro, 2014

I would first like to express

my great appreciation for the efforts of Secretary-

General Ban Ki-moon to promote and achieve peace,

security and prosperity in the world. I would also like

to duly acknowledge the work of Mr. John William

Ashe, President of the General Assembly at its previous

session, to offer my best wishes to President Kutesa

for his stewardship of the Assembly at its sixty-ninth

session, and to confirm Montenegro’s willingness to

cooperate fully with him in his accomplishment of

his important duties. I emphasize the relevance of the

theme of the current session, since it is highly pertinent

to our efforts to meet the Millennium Development

Goals with the imminent arrival of 2015.

As ever, Montenegro remains committed to an

effective multilateral system, resting on a strong United

Nations. As a responsible Member of the United Nations,

Montenegro is therefore committed to continuing

to contribute to strengthening the Organization and

building a functional, integrated system that promotes

respect for human rights, democracy and the rule of

law, while devising and implementing global responses

to global challenges. In that regard, we will continue to

support the process of general reform and of system-

wide coherence, as well as the integrated Delivering

as One programme of action, based on successful

implementation at the national level. I am proud to

point out here that in March, in the most beautiful part

of Montenegro’s capital city, Podgorica, we opened the

United Nations Eco building, host to all the specialized

United Nations agencies, and offering the best possible

conditions for their work and their implementation of

the Delivering as One concept. I see this project as a

strong tool of reliable partnership for Montenegro in

achieving fundamental United Nations goals.

As a member of the Human Rights Council,

Montenegro will continue to fully support the integration

of human rights dimensions into all aspects of the work

of the United Nations and to further strengthen the role

of the Council in response to violations of human rights,

while preserving the universality of international

human rights law and the independence of the United

Nations human rights system. In our approach, the

key priority is to promote the rights of vulnerable

groups — children, youth, the elderly, persons with

disabilities, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender

persons — and to promote gender equality and the fight

against discrimination.

Peace and stability, as preconditions for prosperous

development, can be ensured through positive activism

in global international organizations, primarily in

the United Nations, and the constructive approach of

every country in the sphere of regional policy, as well

as a commitment to good-neighbourly cooperation.

Therefore, Montenegro strongly promotes this

approach in bilateral relations and regional initiatives

in South-East Europe. We are certain that the success

of Montenegro in the process of integration into

the European Union and NATO represents a major

contribution to the stability and opening up of prospects

for development of the wider Balkans region.

Montenegro strongly supports global efforts

towards disarmament and non-proliferation. This year,

we ratified the Arms Trade Treaty, becoming the forty-

fourth country to do so. Our ratification represents

our contribution towards the entry into force of that

historic Treaty, as well as an illustration of our firm

commitment to a responsible global arms trade.

Open and frozen conflicts, from Ukraine across the

Middle East to Africa, pose a threat to durable global

stability. Of particular concern is the fact that the

escalation of violence typically causes humanitarian

disasters and massive human rights violations. We

fully advocate an urgent end to violence and a political

dialogue that would lead to solutions in accordance with

international law, the Charter of the United Nations and

relevant United Nations resolutions. In that context,

we believe that the United Nations and international

community’s activities should place stronger emphasis

on better utilizing preventive measures under Chapter

VI of the Charter, with a special focus on mediation as

a highly cost-effective tool for conflict prevention and

the peaceful resolution of conflicts.

I would like to reaffirm Montenegro’s strong

commitment to the responsibility to protect as a matter

of national priority. Montenegro welcomes the French

initiative to seek a code of conduct on the use of the veto

in situations of genocide, war crimes, crimes against

humanity and ethnic cleansing, and remains keen on

putting that proposal into operation.

The rule of law and the protection of civilians in

peacekeeping missions are of particular importance,

and we stand for the consistent implementation of the

mandates of United Nations peacekeeping missions,

to which we are ready to contribute. Unfortunately,

terrorism still poses an enormous threat to international

peace and security, as evidenced by current events in the

Middle East. I consider it necessary to step up efforts

at all levels in preventing terrorism, in accordance

with international instruments and the United Nations

Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy.

Montenegro strongly promotes a sustainable

development policy and, in line with our active

participation in the Open Working Group on Sustainable

Development Goals, we are committed to further

contribute towards the elaboration of a transformative

and ambitious post-2015 development framework. I

think that the post-2015 development agenda must be

based on an approach of respect for and the promotion

of human rights, where human development will truly

ensure that no one is neglected. Poverty eradication and

sustainable prosperity for the benefit of all people and

the planet must be the overarching objective and guide

the design of a transformative development agenda.

We strongly support the important United

Nations mission implemented by the United Nations

Development Programme (UNDP) relating to human

development, which essentially affirms fundamental

human values. We are proud that two weeks ago,

UNDP chose Montenegro to host the presentation of

this year’s Human Development Report for the South-

East Europe and Central Asia regions. We see this as

a recognition of Montenegro’s progress, affirmation of

human development, and proof of a reliable partnership

between Montenegro and the United Nations.

Finally, I wish to emphasize the fact that the United

Nations has a responsible partner in Montenegro, which

will continue to promote and pursue the goals and

values fostered by the Charter.