Prime Minister Dritan Abazović, Ambassador of France Kristijan Timonije and Ambassador of Slovenia Gregor Presker signed a letter of intent today, in which, as announced by the Government, they expressed their readiness and desire for the Regional Center for Cyber Security and Development of Regional Cyber Capacities to be in Montenegro.
Minister of Public Administration Maraš Dukaj said that by signing the letter of intent we are formally entering into an important joint project that positions Montenegro as a regional center for education in the field of cyber security and the development of cyber capacities.
"Investing in knowledge and education is the most important investment. At the Ministry of Public Administration, one of our guiding ideas is to constantly raise the level of knowledge, improve skills, follow world trends and apply the best experiences and practices. That's why I see this Regional Center as one of the most important projects and one of the most important investments in Montenegro", said Dukaj, according to the Government.
"One of the concrete results of the work of the future Regional Center should be our greater resistance to all future attacks, because the key conditions for early detection of cyber attacks are the recognition of all aspects of danger and the development of new technologies. In all this, we see opportunities and chances for concrete cooperation between Montenegro and France and Slovenia", the minister added.
French Ambassador Timonia pointed out that the Franco-Slovenian project of formation regional training body, with the aim of strengthening operational and structural capacities in the fight against cybercrime, as well as the development of structures and matrices to strengthen the cyber resilience of the administrations of the Western Balkans, is taking shape in Podgorica, within the Science and Technology Park (STP) of Montenegro, in the campus of the University of Montenegro, where the Center for the Development of Cyber Capacity of the Western Balkans (C3BO) will be located.
"On the basis of consultations conducted with relevant institutions, administrations, services and universities throughout the region, in the period from January to June 2022, three approaches have been recognized that will guide the activities of the Center for the Development of Cyber Capacities of the Western Balkans (C3BO), the expansion cyber culture through education and strengthening awareness of its importance, strengthening the operational capacities of IT experts and promoting regional and international cooperation", said Timonije.
Ambassador Presker of Slovenia emphasized the importance of the signing of the letter of intent between Slovenia, France and Montenegro on the occasion of the establishment of the Regional Center for Cyber Security in the Western Balkans (WB3C), which will begin operating in the first quarter of 2023.
"Recent circumstances with cyber attacks in the region have shown the need for greater involvement in the field of cyber security. The center will strengthen the operational and structural capacities of the countries of the Western Balkans in the fight against cybercrime and strengthen structures and models for strengthening cyber security and protecting the critical infrastructure of information systems," said Presker.
Prime Minister Dritan Abazović expressed his gratitude to France and Slovenia for recognizing the importance of establishing an institution of regional character.
"Cyber security is something that is the future of the world. Montenegro, like many countries of the world, feel the need to raise cyber security to an even higher level. This will be a hub for people from the region, so Podgorica will become a key place where knowledge and skills in the field of cyber security are acquired. This is also important in the context of our European integration. The Government's policy is one of open doors and greater regional cooperation. We do things that are in the service of citizens and send a message that we can gather around good things," said Abazović.
The activities and trainings that will take place in the Center for Cyber Security and the Development of Regional Cyber Capacities of the Western Balkans, in accordance with EU regulations and standards, will cover the areas of the fight against cyber crime and cyber security, the Government concluded.
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