The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office/First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Ivica Dacic offered today full support for the reforms being implemented by the Government of Montenegro and commended the progress achieved towards the Euro-Atlantic integration, one of the country’s strategic goals, urging the Government to make the most of OSCE support in key areas such as the rule of law, justice and combating corruption and organized crime.

With regard to the Western Balkans, one of the priorities of Serbia’s 2015 Chairmanship, Dacic said: “In these challenging times for the international community, it is important to draw lessons from the past and reflect upon them. The countries in our region are well-placed to learn valuable lessons from the conflicts and transition process, relevant to today’s challenges.”
“Processes of reconciliation and rebuilding trust are the key priorities of the Serbian Chairmanship. We will continue to pursue this aim with the assistance of the OSCE Special Representative for the Western Balkans, Ambassador Gérard Stoudmann,” said Dacic.
Dacic also welcomed Montenegro’s support for the 2014 Declaration on the role of the State in addressing the issue of people missing as a consequence of armed conflict and human rights abuses, and its commitment to the Regional Housing Program for refugees. “Improving living conditions in the region is a goal we all share, especially for those who still find themselves displaced”, he said.
In that regard, the Head of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, Ambassador Janina Hrebickova, said: "Our Mission will continue to use its substantial expertise and resources in support of the country’s reform and the priorities of Serbian Chairmanship, cooperating with local partners in order to achieve the best results".
During his visit, Dacic met with President Filip Vujanovic, Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic, Speaker of the Parliament Ranko Krivokapic, and Igor Luksic, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration.
Montenegrin officials expressed their support to Serbian OSCE Chairmanship, stressing that Montenegro would fully contribute to the achievement of the Chairmanship’s priorities, particularly the objective of strengthening cooperation in the Western Balkans. “You may count on our full support in the efforts to realize this and other priorities”, said Montenegrin Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic.
The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Ivica Dacic today offered his support to democracy promotion and reform implementation processes during his visit to the OSCE Mission to Skopje, where he was accompanied by OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Astrid Thors.