Montenegro is a credible partner on the regional and international level in the fight against natural disasters, said the Ministry of the Interior (MUP).
The Director General for Emergency Situations in the MUP, Mirsad Mulić, said that the International Disaster Risk Reduction Day, October 13, is an opportunity to show that citizens' responsibility is needed.
"But also of all subjects in society, in order to jointly contribute to reducing the risk of natural and other disasters," Mulić added.
He spoke at the presentation of equipment procured through the EU project - 3 WATCH OUT - Trilateral model of civil protection: Ways, instruments and challenges for our security, which is implemented within the IPA INTERREG Program of cross-border cooperation between Italy, Montenegro and Albania.
The MUP stated that the equipment for fire protection and rescue, for measuring the quality and flow of water, as well as an unmanned aircraft - a drone - were presented.
Mulić said that this project is multifold important for the protection and rescue system because it contributes to strengthening the capacities of the MUP in responding to fires and floods.
"And it also affirms interdepartmental cooperation, and without organized and systemic action, there is no effective response to natural and other disasters," Mulić pointed out.
Director of the Institute for Hydrometeorology and Seismology of Montenegro, Luka Mitrović, said that the equipment will improve the system of monitoring and assessing the risk of flooding, and provide the latest information on the Bojana area and the Skadar Lake area.
"These data are necessary in the early warning system for the Directorate for Emergency Situations of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and all the protection services to react in the right way," said Mitrović.
The representative of the Agency for the Protection of Nature and the Environment, Dušan Raspopović, thanked for the donation, stating that it represents a step forward in control and analysis before and after possible disasters that occur due to climate change and the human factor in our area.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs said that the drone received by the Agency will be used for control and prevention in the national parks Skadarsko jezero and Lovćen.
"And it will be of great help during control and analysis if there are burnt areas", the statement added.
Advisor to the Deputy Chief Negotiator in the Office for European Integration, Bojan Vujović, thanked the European Union (EU) for its continued support for projects that support the improvement of the emergency response system.
"Projects like this improve not only adequate and timely response, but also show the solidarity of people and institutions regardless of borders, which is the purpose of cross-border cooperation program projects," Vujović said.
According to him, the equipment is a concrete indicator of how, through the connection of people and institutions, within the framework of cross-border cooperation, tangible results can be achieved that benefit the wider community.
The Ambassador of Italy in Montenegro, Luka Zelioli, said that the three countries that have come together, and that are facing natural calamities, are forming one team in their joint composition, in order to be better at responding to the challenges before them.
"Today we had the opportunity to see how technical assistance can be useful, however, it is only part of the project, the basis to build better capacities and capabilities to act together," said Zelioli.
The EU Delegation stated that the Union, due to the strengthening of the phenomenon of natural disasters, is taking measures and has become the most vocal global actor in promoting the green agenda, combating climate change and preventing and mitigating disasters.
The Delegation said that the EU also supports projects to mitigate the risk of natural disasters in Montenegro.
"And she made her contribution to the "3 WATCH OUT" project with almost one million euros, improving both cross-border cooperation between the three countries, as well as responding to the real needs of citizens in cross-border areas," the EU Delegation stated.
They said that they expect that in the new cross-border programs of the Union, which are being prepared for the period from 2021 to 2027, the financing of projects in that area will continue, with a real impact on the local population.
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