Speech

Report by OSCE Head of Mission to Montenegro: UK response, June 2022

Ambassador Bush values the work of OSCE's Mission to Montenegro, including their support and advocacy on elections, media freedom, and serious organised crime.

This was published under the 2019 to 2022 Johnson Conservative government
OSCE

Thank you Chair.

Welcome Ambassador Waag to the Permanent Council. Thank you to you and your team for the Report on the Mission바카라 사이트™s activities. The UK values the work of the Mission and appreciates the achievements highlighted.

We recognise that the backdrop to the Mission바카라 사이트™s activities saw a number of challenges, both political and as a result of the ongoing pandemic. Yet, the Mission has continued to adapt and tailor its activities, and to further inclusivity and transparency through its online activities. Following the formation of a new 바카라 사이트 on 28 April, we look forward to furthering progress in the year ahead. Prime Minister Abazovic바카라 사이트™s ambitions for reforms with respect to the rule of law reforms and his track record of tackling serious organised crime are a positive sign for progress in areas of significant importance to the Mission, while the series of elections due to take place in the next year underlines the importance of the Mission바카라 사이트™s work in this area.

I would particularly like to highlight the Mission바카라 사이트™s support and advocacy on elections, media freedom, and serious organised crime.

Firstly 바카라 사이트“ on elections, we appreciate the Mission바카라 사이트™s strengthened cooperation with the State Election Commission, including to improve transparency, which is a long-standing ODIHR recommendation. We also commend the Mission바카라 사이트™s joint efforts with NGOs to make both electoral processes and polling stations accessible for people with disabilities ahead of the municipal elections 바카라 사이트“ an essential step to facilitating voting by all and to furthering inclusivity.

It is, however, concerning to note that the political discourse in 2021 often led to a flood of comments on social media networks containing misinformation and hate speech. The Mission바카라 사이트™s work here, including with the technical working group on self-regulation, and with the Agency for Electronic Media, is greatly appreciated. Your work with journalists and NGOs to increase their understanding of gender aspects in investigative journalism is commendable. Safety of journalists, including women journalists, remains essential.

Thirdly, on serious organised crime, we welcome the Mission바카라 사이트™s assistance to strengthen the capability and accountability of the security sector to address serious threats and crime, whilst protecting public safety and human rights. I would also highlight here the Mission바카라 사이트™s annual public perception survey, which is a valuable tool for identifying perceptions and trends. It is encouraging to note that the findings of the survey show that belonging to an ethnic community is no longer an indicator of a negative attitude towards police.

Finally, the UK commends the Mission바카라 사이트™s work on gender, both within the Mission바카라 사이트™s own activities, and in its support to 바카라 사이트, Parliament and other stakeholders. We encourage a sustained focus on gender throughout your activities.

In concluding, I reiterate our thanks to the Mission for their hard work and commitment, as well as their adaptability over the period.

Thank you Chair

Updates to this page

Published 2 June 2022