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.