Ending the war in Ukraine is not of crucial importance solely for that country, but for the stability of Europe as a whole, said Jelena Nedović, head of the delegation of the Parliament of Montenegro to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).
The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly concluded its 24th winter session in Vienna, which, in addition to MP Nedović, was attended by MPs Jevrosima Pejović, Amer Smailović, Momčilo Leković and Jevto Eraković.
On the last working day, a joint session of the three main committees was held, where around 70 parliamentarians participated in a debate on the topic: "Key Challenges for European Security".
Nedović said on that occasion that, during the current geopolitical tensions, common security and stability rely on unity, strength and strategic action. The war in Ukraine, she pointed out, represents a key security challenge for Europe, and therefore it is necessary to establish peace as soon as possible so that the recovery process can begin.
Nedović also emphasized that Montenegro is a factor of stability in the Western Balkans and a reliable partner of NATO in the region. In this context, she pointed to the statement of the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Mecola, who emphasized that Europe must be responsible for its security, and called for a greater level of engagement, financing and cooperation in order to improve defense capacities.
"The challenges we face are complex, but through unity, commitment and decisive action, we can preserve European security and uphold the values that bind us," concluded Nedović, as announced by the Parliament.
MP Jevrosima Pejović said during the debate that for small states like Montenegro, security and democratic stability come from taking responsibility for their own future. That is why, she said, Montenegro is focusing on strengthening its presence in multilateral frameworks such as NATO, the OSCE and the rules-based international order. These institutions are not abstract ideals, but the foundations of our security, Pejović emphasized.
"After the devastation of World War II, the world built multilateral institutions as platforms for addressing the most complex and delicate challenges, which gave us two key gifts: a set of rules and a clear order of behavior for international actors. From this emerged one of the most important elements of post-war international relations – predictability, without which, with rules and order, global events would slide into chaos," she concluded.
Following the joint session, a meeting of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Ad Hoc Committee on Combating Terrorism was held, attended by MP Pejović, a member of the committee. The topic of the meeting was the role of education and digital literacy in preventing terrorism, violent extremism and radicalization leading to terrorism, highlighting how extremists use online disinformation to incite violence, spread conspiracy theories and recruit new supporters. It was emphasized that it is crucial to provide students with the skills needed to critically evaluate information available online.
A meeting of the OSCE PA Silk Road Group was also held, with the participation of the Montenegrin delegation. Head of the delegation Nedović spoke about the upcoming Fifth Conference of the Group, on the topic "Connecting Continents: Promoting Sustainable Tourism, Clean Energy and Ecological Balance for a Resilient Future", which will be held, organized by the Parliament of Montenegro, from 5 to 7 May in Budva. Nedović emphasized that the conference is not only a forum for discussion, but also an opportunity to foster deeper cooperation, explore innovative approaches and strengthen the Group's commitment to economic, environmental and diplomatic progress.
The Vice President of the Silk Road Group, MP Jevto Eraković, introduced the attendees to the conference program, and said that the upcoming gathering in Montenegro represents an opportunity to "reconnect, revive our mission and reaffirm our commitment to the values that unite us". "This will be the fifth major conference of our group, and it is interesting that the number five represents adventure, transformation and energy, and accordingly there is no better way to describe what we want to achieve together," said Eraković.
"Our delegation also attended the meeting of the OSCE PA countries of Southeast Europe, where they discussed upcoming activities, but also highlighted the success of the Second Interparliamentary Forum of Southeast European Delegations, hosted by the Parliament of Montenegro, in September of the previous year," the parliament announced.
MP Jelena Nedović referred to the conclusions of last year's forum, saying that the participants agreed that tourism is a sphere that connects culturally, economically and geographically, and that rich human capital, natural resources, geographical advantages and economic opportunities, as significant potentials, require cooperation, creativity and determination, in order to use them efficiently. She emphasized that regional cooperation in Southeast Europe can encourage sustainable tourism development and promote greater regional integration through the free movement of people and goods.
Working together in the field of tourism provides an opportunity for a more effective collective commitment to environmental protection, which is especially important in light of current global environmental challenges, she pointed out.
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