Vice President of the Parliament of Montenegro Mr Suljo Mustafić, during his stay in Istanbul on the occasion of participating in the meeting of the General Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Security Cooperation “SEECP”, took the opportunity to meet with representatives of emigrants’ association from Montenegro "Yugoslavia - Montenegro" and association "Bosnia - Sandzak".

During the meetings held in premises of the two associations, the participants discussed contemporary issues related to the status of emigrants and emigrants’ associations in the Republic of Turkey, in the light of the Proposal for the Law on Cooperation of Montenegro with Diaspora. They voiced expectation that the adoption of this law will be a basis for future better cooperation of the state of Montenegro and its emigrants, both in the Republic of Turkey as well as other countries where our emigrants live and work.

Vice President Mustafić pointed out that all citizens of Montenegro and all persons originating from Montenegro who live abroad are considered emigrants, with or without Montenegrin citizenship, as well as those who: perceive Montenegro as their home country or country of origin, identify themselves with Montenegro in the state, national, cultural and civilizational sense, and consider Montenegro as a democratic, independent, sovereign, civic, multi-ethnic and multicultural country. Also, Vice President Mustafić expressed Montenegro’s commitment to cooperation with emigrants, who represent special wealth of the state, and according to estimates by state authorities of the Republic of Turkey there is about 250 thousand of Montenegrin emigrants in Turkey.

Welcoming the organisation of emigrants’ association, Vice President Mustafić said that emigrants were Montenegro’s best ambassadors and a bridge of cooperation between Montenegro and the Republic of Turkey.

It was agreed that contacts of Montenegrin authorities and Republic of Turkey’s authorities should be intensified in the period to come, with the aim of achieving the best possible position for functioning and implementing the activities.

Vice President Mr Mustafić also voiced openness of the Parliament of Montenegro and Committee on International Relations and Emigrants for all initiatives, proposals and suggestions which would improve the situation of emigrants’ position and cooperation with the state in the light of the Law on Cooperation of Montenegro with Diaspora, which would be a part of the agenda at committees and in the plenum.

H,E. Mr Branko Milić, Montenegro’s Ambassador to the Republic of Turkey, attended meetings with emigrants in Istanbul.