Annual Forum of the Migration, Asylum and Refugees Regional Initiative (MARRI) has been held in Podgorica on 21st June 2016. On that date Montenegro completed one year Presidency in Office over this regional mechanism.
Ambassador Milorad Scepanovic, Deputy Foreign Minister for multilateral and regional initiatives chaired the Forum that gathered representatives of the Republic of Albania, Republic of Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republic of Serbia and Kosovo*, as well as the representatives of international organizations: IOM, OBSE, DCAF, ICMPD and Swiss State Secretariat for Migration.
This meeting has been an important opportunity to summarize the results of Montenegrin Presidency-in-Office and set priorities for the forthcoming activities, which resulted with adoption of Podgorica Declaration and handover of the Presidency-in-Office to the Republic of Serbia. Several strategic documents has been also adopted, such as: Annual Contributions Decision for 2016, Annual Report on activities for the period June 2015-June 2016, Financial Report for 2015, as well as Annual Program of activities and Priorities of Serbian Presidency.
The Secretary General of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Montenegro, Mr. Dragan Pejanovic pointed out, in his welcome address, that the complex geopolitical context with new migration flows towards Western Balkans contributed to the challenges Montenegro faced during the period of the Presidency-in-Office on one hand, but also reiterated that this situation confirmed full purpose and importance of MARRI for our Region. He also informed that activities implemented in the course of the previous year witness continuous progress of MARRI towards the image of credible partner for its founders, but also for important international organizations that became MARRI partners and donors such as: CEI, GIZ, DCAF, PCCSEE, Swiss State Secretariat for Migration and UK Embassy in Skopje.
MARRI Participants assessed that Montenegro successfully completed one year of the Presidency in office over MARRI, stressing high level of efficiency in implementation of the priorities set in the Annual Program of Activities. Participants unanimously supported further strengthening and continuous joint activities in order to improve functioning of MARRI and its Secretariat in Skopje – MARRI Regional Centre.
The meeting of the MARRI Regional Committee has been held the day before MARRI Regional Forum, in order to finalize all above mentioned documents and provide guidelines for further functioning of the Initiative. They have been focused on the results of Montenegrin Presidency-in-Office activities aimed at improvement of capacity building, efficiency, visibility and promotion of MARRI, with assessment that joint efforts should be additionally invested in order to achieve the common goal – enhance overall capacities of MARRI, supported by its founders and international partners.
*This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSC 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.
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