The main global challenges can only be answered globally, not nationally, said President Milo Đukanović at the UNESCO headquarters, after participating in the Paris Peace Forum in Paris.
"This year's Forum was dedicated to reshaping the key principles of international cooperation in the conditions of covid. Also, I am returning with a lot of optimism because it seems to me that finally, after some confusion, it is now very well understood that we will be able to respond to the main global challenges only globally, and not not at all national, which further brings us back to multilateral cooperation and increases the enthusiasm for such cooperation among everyone. This is a great hope not only for small countries, but I would say for the world as a whole, because it is the only way to overcome some additional pronounced inequalities in a world that, unfortunately, is a problem that the pandemic has cruelly accentuated," said Đukanović, as announced by his cabinet.
He said that the event in France was at the same time an opportunity to attend the dinner hosted by French President Macron and his wife for all heads of state and government participating in the Paris Peace Forum.
Đukanović stated that on the sidelines of the Forum he spoke with several officials - the prime ministers of Albania, Kosovo, Andorra, as well as the presidents of Iceland and Slovenia. "These are always good opportunities to update information concerning both the region and the European perspective and to encourage our neighbors and to encourage our friends to help us achieve our strategic interests and goals," the president said.
Đukanović also visited the headquarters of UNESCO today, on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the functioning of that organization. He reminded that 2022 will mark 15 years of Montenegrin membership in UNESCO. "I would say with impressions that are very favorable from our mutual cooperation."
The President said that in the conversation with UNESCO Director General Audrey Azule, he emphasized that it is Montenegro's responsibility for cooperation within that organization. Montenegro, Đukanović points out, is a specific country that has 13 percent of its territory in various protection programs by UNESCO.
"Also, I emphasized our special sensibility towards preserving the perspective of the ecological state of Montenegro towards the protection of our homeland and the natural assets that Montenegro protects, especially towards the area of Durmitor and the Tara River, and this met with the approval of our hosts and they, of course, We were pleased to emphasize the high contribution that Montenegro makes within this organization. It is very good that what we do in terms of protecting tangible and intangible heritage is done in such a way that we cooperate within the region, we cooperate with our neighbors and that these initiatives of ours are never inspired by the fact that protection, regardless of whether it is natural assets or some valuable local tradition, we build in such a way as to cause misunderstandings and discord in the region and with our neighbors. This is very well recognized in this organization and equally valued," Đukanović said.
He said that he believes that the coming years will also be "years of our enhanced cooperation" within UNESCO and the best confirmation of Montenegro's commitment to multilateralism and cooperation with all organizations that function within the United Nations system.
Đukanović, as announced, will continue today with a visit to Bratislava, where he will have talks with the representative of the European Union for the Western Balkans region, Miroslav Lajčak.
"It will be, so to speak, a continuation of a regular dialogue that we hold, where Montenegro tries to make a recognizable contribution to strengthening stability, better regional cooperation and opening a clearer European perspective for all the countries of the Western Balkans," the president concluded.
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