Podgorica, (MINA) – Montenegro’s admission to the United Nations (UN) two decades ago sealed the official international recognition of the country, said Minister of Foreign Affairs Ervin Ibrahimovic at the ceremony marking 20th anniversary of Montenegro’s membership in this global organization.

On June 28, 2006, by the Resolution of the General Assembly, and following a recommendation by the Security Council, the UN member states unanimously admitted Montenegro as the 192nd member state.

“It was the moment when the official international recognition of Montenegro as an independent and sovereign state was sealed, as an equal member of the international community”, Ibrahimovic said at the reception held at Villa Gorica.

Montenegro’s admission into the UN in 2006 is particularly significant because, according to Ibrahimovic, it came immediately after the country restored its independence.

Austrian Ambassador to Montenegro Christian Steiner recalled that, after the referendum in 2006 and the Declaration of Independence, a meeting was held in Luxembourg on June 12 at which it was concluded that Montenegro was an independent state with full subjectivity, and that EU members would develop relations with it. 

“On the same day, Austria officially recognized Montenegro’s independence, and a month later diplomatic relations were established”, said Steiner.

UN Resident Coordinator in Montenegro Carline Tissot pointed out the most significant developments in the previous two decades, noting that UN agencies were involved in numerous reform agendas and cooperated closely with Montenegrin ministries.