Montenegro

International meeting on final draft of the National Strategy for Sustainable Development of Montenegro

Development of NSSD document provided ground for practical implementation of the ecological state development model encompassed within document “Montenegro Ecological State Development Directions”.

Podgorica, June 12th 2006 – Montenegro has obtained a final draft of the National Strategy for Sustainable Development. The draft was developed within the partnership among the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Physical Planning of Montenegro, the Mediterranean Action Plan operating under the United Nations Environment Program (UENEP/MAP) and the United Nations Developement Program (UNDP) Podgorica Office, also financially supported by the Italian Ministy of Environment and Territory.
 
The document’s special value lies in its organisational transparency. Representatives of NGO and civil society sector, scientific and expert institutions, local government – i.e. representatives of all the segments of Montenegrin society participated jointly with expert team members in creation of this document.
 
Mr. Boro Vučinić, Montenegrin Minister of Environmental Protection and Physical Planning said that sustainable development was a genuine dedication, aspiration and commitment of the Government of the Republic of Montenegro.  Development of the National Strategy for Sustainable Development for Montenegro created conditions for practical implementation of the ecological state development model encompassed within document Montenegro Ecological State Development Directions. “Existence of the Office for Sustainable Development and the Council for Sustainable Development in Montenegro is a proof of sustainable development as neither rhetorical nor prestigious issue but as the issue of determination that the national long-term strategy development is based on”, Vučinić said.  “Montenegro needs financial and technical assistance and support that should be implemented through a synchronised operation and cooperation with developed countries, the European Union, the United Nations’ agencies, international financial institutions and business structures” – Minister Vučinić pointed out, appealing for continued cooperation to the foreign partners and to all the previous participants in the project.

Mr. Branko Lukovac, Head of Office for Sustainable Development of Montenegro said the symbolics of the finalization process for NSSDM quite matched the 15th anniversary of adoption of the Declaration on Montenegro Ecological State, which falls on September 20th. Thus in September this year, the Document including Action Plan and Budget should be finalised and presented to the National Council and probably to the Government. In this way, after fifteen years Montenegro will obtain its first sustainable development strategy.

Mr. Paolo Soprano, Italian Government representative in charge of the National Strategy for Sustainable Development for Italy congratulated on the recently established state independence. He said that totally positive coincidence was that this very week the countries and the Governments of European Union should revise the EU Sustainable Development Strategy, which makes the entire process compatible with the process in Montenegro where the strategy now analyses both international context and sustainable development priorities in the country, including institutional framework and focus on the three sustainability pillars: economic, social and environmental.
 
Mr. Philippe Alirol, representative of the Mediterranean Commission for Sustainable Development said that since last year UNEP/MAP had technically and financially supported the creation of Sustainable Development Strategies in Puglia region, Montenegro, Morocco and Syria, with the element of biodiversity included. This year, creation of sustainable development strategies in Albania, Bosnia and Hercegovina and Lebanon will be supported through financial assistance of Spanish Government.
 
Presentations:

Challenges, achievements and constraints in the project  «Development of the National Strategy for Sustainable Development of Montenegro»: Jelena Knežević, Coordinator of the process, Ministry of Environmental Protection and Physical Planning                    

Mediterranean Strategy for Sustainable Development as the regional strategy framework: Philippe Alirol, Mediterranean Commission for Sustainable Development

National Strategy for Sustainable Development of Montenegro - implementation challenges in the context of regional and global processes: Michele Grimaldi, Leader International Expert

From the first to the second draft of NSSD Montenegro: Marina Marković, Leader National Expert

Main outputs from participatory process in the framework of NSSD Montenegro development: Siniša Stevović, NGO «MOST»

General comments on the II draft of NSSD Montenegro: Andrzej Kassenberg, President of the Institute for Sustainable Development in Warszaw - Poland and UNDP Consultant

Action plan - environmental field: Vasilije Bušković, member of the Working Group for Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Management

Action plan - social field: Olivera Vukadinović, Social Development Working Group Coordinator

Action plan - economy field: Milivoje Radović, Economy Development Working Group Coordinator