The US Ambassador to Montenegro Sue K. Brown and Justice Minister Duško Marković signed earlier today the bilateral letter of agreement in support of Government’s efforts to strengthen the rule of law combat against organised crime and corruption.

The agreement includes, among other things, US Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement’s (INL) support to Montenegro’s “top priority to improve the effectiveness of the police, prosecutors and judges to fairly and justly hold accountable those who engage in corruption and organised crime,” as Ambassador Brown put it in her statement following the signing of the agreement.

Ambassador Brown said that “the USA recognises and commends steps Montenegro has already taken to improve its legal framework” in these key areas, and added that police, prosecutors’ and judges’ work has been improved as well as provisions adopted “to increase judicial efficiency through enactment of the new criminal procedure code.”

Minister Marković underlined that this project, which is worth $1,7m and will last until September 2012, is yet another expression of US support to major projects in Montenegro. He explained that the project’s aim is to enhance the capacity of Montenegrin institutions to fight “organised crime and corruption as the biggest challenges Montenegro faces.” He went on by saying that the project includes two US Government programmes – the INL initiative to fight international narcotics smuggling and implementation of the law and the capacity building for the implementation of the law.

These programmes will include, as he said, activities aimed at strengthening key institutions, particularly the police, judges and prosecutors, trainings, equipment donation and expert and technical assistance. One of the main projects will be the establishment of a working group that will by year’s end recommend police reorganisation for more efficient fight against the undesirable phenomena.

Ambassador Brown said that the signing of this agreement “highlights the strong partnership” between the two Governments and stressed that the Agreement’s “joint initiatives build upon the important work Montenegro has already undertaken in criminal justice reform working with advice and assistance of the US Government, other Governments and international organisations.”

She made a point of saying that “Montenegro’s active role in shaping the initiatives of this agreement,” for which she commended Mr Marković personally, “demonstrates a strong commitment to establishing a criminal justice system able to deter and address crime, including organised crime and corruption, consistent with European standards.”

She underlined that her country and embassy have been and will continue to be a reliable partner and she concluded her statement with a message of encouragement: “My Government and my Embassy pledge our support for your efforts and we look forward to Montenegro’s continued progress towards NATO and EU membership.”