Montenegro

Allow me to extend my warmest congratulations to Her Excellency Annalena Baerbock on her election as President of the 80th session of the General Assembly. Such an election is both historic and inspiring, as she is only the fifth woman entrusted with this high office. We recall Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit of India, who spoke with the voice of a free Asia; Angie Brooks, the Liberian diplomat and judge, who advocated for the rights of small states and the women of Africa; Haya Rashed Al-Khalifa of Bahrain, who carried a message of dialogue and international law from the heart of the Middle East; as well as María Fernanda Espinosa of Ecuador, who raised her voice in the fight for climate justice and the rights of the indigenous peoples of Latin America. Each of them left a strong mark on her time, and this election gives Europe the opportunity to consistently advocate for the principles of unwavering defense of human rights and multilateralism.

This year, as we mark 80 years since the founding of the United Nations, we look back on the extraordinary journey of this institution, born as a mission for the achievement of global peace. Born from the ashes of the Second World War, the United Nations arose as a beacon of hope for humanity.

Let us imagine the devastated cities around the world in 1945: Warsaw razed to the ground, Saint Petersburg destroyed after years of siege, Berlin in ruins, Hiroshima and Nagasaki struck by unimaginable horror, and my hometown and the capital of Montenegro — Podgorica — was also almost completely destroyed in the bombings. Despite the wounds of that time, world leaders gathered, looking toward the future. At a moment when the trenches between nations still existed, and the graves of loved ones were still fresh, the United Nations organization was born. The idea that light can emerge from darkness, and that solidarity can overcome despair.

Despite unprecedented destruction, the idea of peace and unity prevailed over divisions and hostility. The leaders of that time recognized the urgent need for a strong global organization, capable of preventing future wars and fostering cooperation among states. As an integral part of the former Yugoslavia, Montenegro was, indirectly, among the founding states of the United Nations.

We established an international system that promotes peace, supports a rules-based world order, protects human rights and fosters sustainable development. Without the United Nations, much of our shared progress would remain only a distant dream.

Yet, even after eight decades, we must acknowledge one serious truth: the absence of world war has not always meant the presence of genuine peace and prosperity. Today multilateralism faces challenges unlike any seen before. Our world faces devastating conflicts, growing polarization, serious violations of human rights, deep economic inequalities, as well as the devastating spread of disinformation.

These challenges remind us of one key fact: we must not allow the marginalization of the United Nations, nor the silencing of international law.

Right now, more than ever, we must renew our commitment to the fundamental principles of the Charter of the United Nations. Despite its imperfections, the United Nations remains the only global institution in which every nation has its place and in which international law remains the foundation of legitimacy. That is what makes the United Nations irreplaceable.

Since restoring its independence in 2006, Montenegro has cooperated with the United Nations in implementing reforms in the areas of sustainable development, human rights and the principles of good governance, in line with our aspirations toward full membership in the European Union. Next year we will proudly mark two decades since the restoration of independence, as well as twenty years of membership in the United Nations.

Over the past two decades, Montenegro has developed into a modern democracy. This transformation is also reflected in our economy, which is recording stable growth, driven by key sectors such as tourism and energy.

Our resilience has been tested by global crises, but Montenegro remains firmly committed to building a knowledge-based economy, which fosters sustainable development and contributes to the stability and prosperity of the entire region.

Commitment to multilateralism and cooperation with the UN remains one of the fundamental pillars of foreign policy, in complete accordance with our European and Euro-Atlantic path, as well as our commitment to good neighborly relations and regional cooperation. NATO membership represents the foundation of our security, while our strategic priority is directed toward full membership in the European Union by 2028. That is an ambitious goal, but one that is fully achievable.

As the most advanced candidate for EU membership, Montenegro remains firmly committed to implementing structural reforms and aligning with the Common Foreign and Security Policy of the European Union. We are convinced that European integration represents a driving force for lasting progress, stability and, ultimately, the security of the European continent. In this process, Montenegro is not merely a beneficiary, but an active contributor — confirming that enlargement strengthens the European Union just as much as it strengthens the candidate countries.

To strengthen multilateralism, we must also confront its weaknesses. The Security Council increasingly remains paralyzed and unable to fulfill its basic mandate as the principal guardian of peace and security.

The most recent example is the war in Ukraine, which has inflicted immeasurable suffering on that people. Montenegro welcomes the recent diplomatic efforts of the international community, led by the United States, aimed at achieving a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. We sincerely hope for the success of these efforts.

At the same time, Montenegro expresses deep concern over the worsening humanitarian situation of the Palestinian people in Gaza. We call for an immediate ceasefire.

Montenegro also most strongly condemns the horrific terrorist attack that occurred on 7 October 2023, and urges the unconditional release of all hostages.

We consistently support a peaceful resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on a two-state solution, in full accordance with international law and relevant UN resolutions. Montenegro supported the New York Declaration on the peaceful resolution of the Palestinian question and the implementation of the two-state solution.

Montenegro supports the implementation of the United Nations Pact for the Future, as well as the Seville Commitment — a renewed global commitment to financing sustainable development — as important steps toward strengthening our collective ability to respond to contemporary global challenges. We also believe that the upcoming Second World Summit for Social Development must decisively move beyond mere deliberation and analysis, and deliver concrete, tangible solutions that will improve people's lives around the world.

Back in 1991, Montenegro proudly became the first ecological state in the world — a historic moment that confirmed our lasting commitment to the highest principles of environmental protection, nature conservation and sustainable development.

The 2030 Agenda remains our fundamental starting point for sustainable development. Montenegro proudly notes that it was among the first states which, nearly a decade ago already, fully integrated all the sustainable development goals into its national framework.

Another important step toward progress in implementing the 2030 Agenda was the establishment of the Fund for Accelerating the Sustainable Development Goals — a strong mechanism for financing the goals of the Agenda.

For Montenegro, the priority is clear: creating conditions that will enable our young people to build their future at home, giving them equal opportunities to advance. By insisting on the value of knowledge and ensuring equal access to quality education, we strive to reduce inequality and empower citizens to reach their full potential.

Climate change must be addressed globally and urgently.

These are no longer just warnings from scientists; they are floods that swallow villages and towns, fires that destroy forests, fields and homes. Delaying more decisive action at the international level means putting the lives of future generations at stake.

Rapid technological change, especially the rise of artificial intelligence, must be used in a safe, responsible and inclusive manner. Technology should be a gift of evolution to humanity: developed, financed and led with social responsibility, and in service of the common good.

At the global level, human rights and fundamental freedoms continue to face serious challenges. Although significant progress has been made in advancing women's rights since the Beijing Declaration, much work remains ahead of us. Montenegro remains strongly committed to gender equality. State policies are aligned with international standards, institutions dedicated to protecting women's rights have been strengthened, and women's leadership has been promoted in all spheres of society.

As we mark 80 years of shared achievements, our common task is to reform the United Nations and prepare it for the challenges and opportunities of the future. Criticism of the UN reflects not only on the Organization itself, but on all of us as Member States — because we are the ones who created it, we guide it, and it is our responsibility to strengthen it. That is precisely why Montenegro strongly supports the Secretary-General's UN80 initiative. It must not be seen as a mere bureaucratic exercise, but as a solemn obligation: for the United Nations of the future to become more agile and effective. At the center of all these efforts must remain the three pillars of the UN: peace and security, sustainable development and human rights — as the foundation of all United Nations activities.

Montenegro firmly believes that the United Nations must remain the cornerstone of peace; that international law must prevail over force; and that the rules-based order must never be called into question. Without these principles there is no trust among nations, no genuine security, nor hope for a just and lasting peace.

As perhaps the most famous writer from our region and Nobel laureate, Ivo Andrić, wrote in his masterpiece "The Bridge on the Drina": "Of everything that man in his life's instinct raises and builds, nothing is in my eyes better and more valuable than bridges. They are more important than houses, holier than temples. Belonging to everyone and equal to everyone." This timeless truth reminds us that bridges are not only structures of stone, but structures of peace.

It is dialogue that builds bridges, and only across bridges can nations walk toward peace.

Our task is not to be passive heirs of history, but active builders of a better legacy. May the next eighty years of the United Nations not be a time of hesitation, but a time of courage and solidarity.

Guided by these values, Montenegro will continue to build bridges, strengthen dialogue, and work tirelessly toward a future of stability, progress and shared success — in complete accordance with the spirit and mission of the United Nations.