Purišić: Montenegro has done a lot to take care of refugees and opened doors for displaced and internally displaced persons

Montenegro has done a lot in caring for refugees and has opened its doors to displaced and internally displaced persons from the territory of the former Yugoslavia, said Minister of Labor and Social Welfare Kemal Purišić, stating that in that process it had the help of UNHCR.

As announced by the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare (MRSS), Purišić spoke with the new acting head of the UNHCR office in Montenegro, Adrian Edwards.

Purišić congratulated Edwards on his appointment and expressed his expectation that the good cooperation between Montenegro and UNHCR will continue in the future.

"I am convinced that your references will greatly help you complete this mission to mutual satisfaction," Purišić pointed out.

He reminded that until two years ago, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications was the leading institution for cooperation with the UNHCR and that the social care of the displaced is still under the responsibility of that department.

"Montenegro has done a lot to take care of refugees and "opened its doors" to displaced and internally displaced persons from the territory of the former Yugoslavia, and in that process it had significant help from the UNHCR," added Purišić.

He stated that a legal framework was created that enabled their integration.

"We worked together to regulate their legal status and secure the missing documents, in order to enable full integration into Montenegrin society for those who chose Montenegro as their new home," said Purišić.

He emphasized Montenegro's cooperation with UNHCR on the project "Regional Housing Program", worth 27,6 million euros, which solves the housing issue of displaced people from the territory of the former Yugoslavia, in which the Government of Montenegro participates with a contribution of 4,1 million euros .

According to Purišić, the implementation of the program is planned to solve the housing issue for 1.177 families.

Edwards thanked for the efforts and achieved results in the field of socio-economic care of refugees, especially for the contribution to ending statelessness by registering them in the birth register.

"Montenegro, due to the progress achieved in this domain, has a historic opportunity to stand side by side with countries that are leaders in ending statelessness," said Edwards.

He emphasized the negative impact that Covid-19 can have not only on their position but also on the entire population.