At the general debate within the General Assembly of the United Nations, Montenegro will not be represented by the heads of state and government, as was the case in previous years, but the participation was announced by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Srđan Darmanović.
According to unofficial information from "Vijesti" from the top of the DPS, Prime Minister Duško Marković was scheduled to speak at the general debate, which is being held online this year, on Saturday, September 26, but there was a change and the address was postponed for today.
The Government did not officially respond to the question of why Marković refused to participate in the UN debate, for which he was only supposed to send a recorded speech. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs unofficially told "Vijesta" that participation in the debate is the decision of the state, and that there is no special protocol that determines who should speak.
They explained that due to the pandemic, this year's discussion in the UN will be held in the context of the coronavirus, which is why Darmanović's already recorded address on pressing issues will be broadcast in the UN assembly.
"News" from the Ministry did not officially answer why it was decided to address the Minister of Foreign Affairs instead of the President and the Prime Minister, as it was mostly the practice since Montenegro became a member of the UN.
When asked why it was decided to address Darmanović instead of Marković, Montenegro's ambassador to the UN, Milica Pejanović Đurišić, said she had no information about that.
"We here at the Mission have no information as to why the change occurred," Pejanović Đurišić told "Vijesta".
Since the restoration of independence and the official membership of Montenegro in the UN on June 28, 2006, Montenegro has been represented at the general debates by the presidents of the state or government, except in 2012 when the Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Nebojša Kaluđerović spoke.
On September 15, the 75th annual session of the General Assembly began at the headquarters of the United Nations in New York.
The general debate within the General Assembly is held from September 22 to 29. During the debate, representatives of 193 member states, as well as three observer countries, among them 126 heads of state or government, spoke or will do so today, writes the UN website.
On June 28, 2006, Montenegro became the 192nd full member of the United Nations.
In his address to the General Assembly, President Filip Vujanović said that Montenegro will respect all the obligations assumed by the UN Charter and be a reliable partner in the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals.
"Montenegro, strategically focused on European and Euro-Atlantic integration, will actively support the peaceful resolution of conflicts, humanitarian missions, the fight against terrorism, organized crime and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. "Montenegro hereby confirms its adherence to the principles of international law, as well as respect for the International Court of Justice, which protects them," said Vujanović at the time.
The General Debate within the UN General Assembly is an opportunity for world leaders to gather at the UN headquarters and discuss global issues.
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