The Fourth World Conference of Speakers of Parliaments devoted to the topic “Parliamentary oversight: Challenges and opportunities” gathered more than 120 presidents of parliaments from all over the world.

On the occasion, Montenegro was particularly honoured, hence President of the Parliament of Montenegro Mr Ranko Krivokapić was one of ten among 120 presidents of parliaments who had a bilateral meeting and a working lunch with Secretary General of the United Nations Mr Ban Ki-Moon. During the meeting, the interlocutors discussed the importance of strengthening parliamentary mechanisms, the role of parliament as a pillar of democracy and the need to make parliament to be a stronger carrier of political processes aimed at strengthening institutions, keeping peace and providing general social progress.

President of the Parliament of Montenegro Mr Ranko Krivokapić addressed the participants of the Fourth World Conference of Speakers of Parliaments in the plenary hall of the UN General Assembly, and on the occasion noted: “We parliamentarians must see the forest – the integrity and not lose ourselves among the trees – particularity. Parliaments are the very place which has to open the space for unpleasant truths and take responsibility for painful changes. We are elected primarily to build paths of safe future, not momentary popularity”.

“We must never lose the awareness that the parliament is a democratic origin of all other authorities and powers. Without the power of parliament, the citizens are not represented. The oversight role is increasingly equated with the legislative role of parliament. The crisis has opened new awareness on the need of standardising instruments of hearing, investigation and control”, Mr Krivokapić stressed in his address to participants of the conference.

On the side-lines of the Conference, President of the Montenegrin Parliament Mr Ranko Krivokapić had a meeting with his German counterpart, President of the Bundestag Mr Norbert Lammert. The interlocutors spoke on Euro-Atlantic integration of our state, with a special focus on obligations of Montenegro arising from NATO agenda before the December ministerial meeting. During the talk, they assessed that the rule of law remained a key obligation and that all further progress would be assessed in this context.

President Krivokapić had a bilateral meeting with Speaker of the Chamber of Representatives of the Kingdom of Belgium Mr Siegfried Bracke. “Belgium, as one of the founding states of the NATO and the European Union is very important for our Euro-Atlantic path. With full commitment, we are working on building a society based on the rule of law and strong institutions. We particularly appreciate partnering relation and understanding that Belgium provides to us in this process”, Mr Krivokapić said.

The interlocutors concluded that Euro-Atlantic path is a road to permanent peace and stability of the Western Balkans countries and a rout that leads to democratisation of the society, creating a more prosperous ambience based on the law and justice, and finally to better living standard of citizens.

President Ranko Krivokapić in New York also met Mr Ruždija Jarović, a representative of the organisation “Euro Gusinje”, an association gathering our emigrants in the USA, with the aim of providing support and help to citizens of Gusinje and Montenegro.

Conference of Speakers of Parliaments will be continued in New York tomorrow, during which President Ranko Krivokapić will have a series of bilateral meetings.