On the occasion of ending of their first monitoring visit to Montenegro, which took place from 8 to 10 July 2013, the co-rapporteurs of the PACE Monitoring Committee held a press conference today, in the Hall of the Parliament of Montenegro.

Ms Nursuna Memecan (Turkey) and Mr Kimmo Sasi (Finland), the co-rapporteurs of the PACE Monitoring Committee, and Mr Zoran Vukčević, PhD, Head of Delegation of the Parliament of Montenegro to PACE, addressed the numerous media representatives.

In his opening speech at the conference, Mr Zoran Vukčević, PhD, Head of Delegation of the Parliament of Montenegro to PACE, stated that the occasion for the first out of two planned visits of co-rapporteurs to Montenegro was establishing the status and monitoring of the activities undertaken in order to implement recommendations included in the PACE Resolution 1890 (2012) “Compliance with the duties and obligations of Montenegro”, adopted on 27 June 2012.  In accordance with the recommendations from the Resolution, Montenegro is actively orientated toward the judiciary reform and constitutional amendments, as well as the promotion of conditions for ensuring that the rights of all minorities, including LGBT persons and members of RAE population, are respected and implemented. In its Resolution 1890 (2012) PACE defined the obligation of combating corruption and organised crime, and strengthening the oversight bodies, as well as promotion of conditions in the field of media and working environment of journalists.

Head of Delegation of the Parliament of Montenegro to PACE added that special attention was paid to resolving the legal status of displaced and internally displaced persons, as well as finding a permanent solution for their situation, based on their voluntary return or local integration. 

Head of Delegation of the Parliament of Montenegro to PACE stated that in the past three days of the very intensive visit, and at the total of 29 held meetings with the representatives of the state institutions, NGO sector, media, international organisations and diplomatic corps, the co-rapporteurs had been able to obtain the data and information on all the activities that Montenegro had been continuously undertaking in order to meet the recommendations included in the PACE Resolution 1890 (2012).

PACE co-rapporteur, Ms Nursuna Memecan (Turkey) thanked the media for great interest in the conference. She stated that this is the first visit to Montenegro for both her and Mr Sasi as co-rapporteurs. She stated that she had first visited Montenegro as part of the parliamentary elections observation mission in October 2012, while Mr Sasi had stayed in Montenegro for the purpose of observation of the presidential elections in April 2013. She thanked all the subjects with whom they had been cooperating in the previous period, in preparation and implementation of the visit, for both positive and constructive cooperation, citing that everyone had shown readiness and dedication to improvement of situation in the field of democracy and the rule of law. With regard to the independence of the judiciary, which is one of the most important issues, she pointed out that some positive steps had been made in that direction, and she deemed as very important the adoption of the constitutional amendments which will allow for greater independence of judiciary, which is expected by the end of July. She estimated that this would increase not only the independence of judiciary, but also the citizens’ perception of justice, and that this would promote the economy, attract foreign investments and, either directly or indirectly, have a positive impact on the citizens’ quality of life. She emphasised that it was encouraging that there was a consensus and clear aspiration of Montenegro for EU membership.

PACE co-rapporteur, Mr Kimmo Sasi (Finland) highlighted the following five key issues that are the determinants on the road map of Montenegro for exiting the monitoring stage:

- ending judiciary reform and amending the Constitution;

- respecting the rights of minorities, including the rights of LGBT persons, as well as the situation of the Roma, Ashkali and Egyptians;

- combating corruption and organised crime and strengthening oversight bodies;

- situation in the media and working environment of the journalists, and

- legal status of displaced and internally displaced persons, as well as finding a permanent solution for them, based on their voluntary return or local integration.

He stated that, apart from these five key areas, in light of the recently held parliamentary and presidential elections in Montenegro, another area of monitoring within this visit, relating to the election process, had been added. 

Mr Kimmo Sasi urged all the subjects to adopt the amendments to the Constitution of Montenegro in order to be able to guarantee the independence of judiciary, in accordance with the Venice Commission recommendations, which is a very significant step on Montenegro’s path to the EU.

With regard to the respecting of minority rights, he assessed that the situation was improved, but the efforts in that field should continue, which would be followed by the co-rapporteurs, with special emphasis on the Pride Parade which is to be held the next autumn.

With regard to combating corruption and organised crime, he stated that it was very important for the authorities to combat these phenomena, for which mechanisms exist.

Addressing the journalists, Mr Sasi stated that they know better than he does about the situation in the media.

Mr Sasi commended Montenegro’s progress in defining the legal status of displaced and internally displaced persons, and pointed out that it was necessary for them to have their identity and ID documents.

He deemed very significant the forming the Working Group for Building Trust in the Election Process, and commended the excellent cooperation between the members of the Working Group. He highlighted the two things that need to be ensured: the accuracy of voter registers and transparency in funding the political parties and pre-election campaigns. He held in high regard the fact that Montenegro was ready to work on this, with estimate that progress had been achieved, but what remained to be seen was how the constitutional and other ongoing reforms would end.

One of the reporters present asked the co-rapporteurs of PACE Monitoring Committee whether shedding light on the affair “Recording” was necessary for Montenegro’s progress toward the European Union.

The co-rapporteur Mr Kimmo Sasi replied that it was an ongoing process, and he estimated as positive the fact that the Inquiry Committee had been formed, and that the Public Prosecutor’s Office dealing with investigation was working on it simultaneously, pointing out that the co-rapporteurs could not interfere in that process, but that they would follow it until it ended.