Montenegro's diplomatic network is expanding, with six new embassies to be opened in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, India and Japan, and an office in Luxembourg. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says the network is being built gradually and thoughtfully, but they are not disclosing how much the new embassies will cost.
"Costs vary from country to country, depending on location, rental price, cost of living, minimum staff structure and inflationary trends. The Ministry will, in accordance with fiscal possibilities and price trends, update the initial cost estimates and align them with planned budget allocations," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MVP) said.
They explain that the diplomatic network is crucial for the country's affirmation, attracting investments, increasing trade and promoting Montenegro. Experts do not doubt the justification for opening embassies, but they say that the existing ones do not serve their purpose either.
"For expansion to have a substantial effect, the opening of new missions must be accompanied by a foreign policy strategy and precisely defined economic goals. From practical experience, I know that our diplomatic missions often struggle with finances and human resources, simply failing to realize their full potential," said Mladen Grgić from the Faculty of Political Sciences.
The fact that 11 embassies have not yet appointed ambassadors, mostly in EU countries with which we are integrating, speaks volumes about the human resources shortage. We are missing ambassadors in Greece, Germany, Spain, and the United Kingdom, among others. With the expansion of the network, the Ministry is also announcing changes to the internal organization and systematization, for the optimal number of employees.
"A detailed analysis of the required staffing capacities will be conducted. In accordance with international practice, the number of staff will be adjusted to the specifics of each country and the nature of bilateral relations, including the appointment of ambassadors," the MFA said.
"We need to work on professionalizing the network, so that political appointments, which are our reality, for a small country with limited resources, may not be the most adequate solution, because often political appointments are not accompanied by quality. There are various cases, and we should not generalize, but the diplomatic service should not be a reward for a politician, or an opportunity to live in a regional country," Grgić emphasized.
Grgić also notes that the foreign policy pursued by the Government is confusing and that its delegations travel more to the United Arab Emirates than to the European Union, which we are integrating into. He questions strategic agreements with countries that are also outside the EU, regarding key sectors such as energy.
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