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Montenegro–Ukraine relations

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Montenegrin-Ukrainian relations
Map indicating locations of Montenegro and Ukraine

Montenegro
Ukraine

Montenegro–Ukraine relations relate to bilateral relations between Montenegro and Ukraine. Formal relations began on 15 June 2006 when Ukraine recognized Montenegro, less than two weeks after the Parliament of Montenegro declared the independence of Montenegro from Serbia.[1] Both countries established diplomatic relations on 22 August 2006. Montenegro has an embassy in Kyiv. Ukraine has an embassy in Podgorica. Although economic ties are weak, Montenegro is a transit point for human trafficking between Ukraine and the rest of Europe.[2] Montenegro is a member of NATO, which Ukraine applied for in 2022. Ukraine is a member of the BSCE, with Montenegro being a sectoral dialogue partner.

Official visits and statements

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In 2006, Montenegrin President Filip Vujanović visited President of Ukraine Victor Yushchenko.[3][4] In October 2008, Professor Željko Radulović, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Montenegro to Ukraine, presented his letters of credence to the Ukrainian President.[5] In December 2008, the Ukrainian non-resident extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador Anatoliy Oliynyk was dismissed and replaced by Oksana Slyusarenko.[6] In February 2009, the Montenegrin Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance, Igor Lukšić met Oksana Slysarenko and discussed common interests including banking and economic cooperation.[7]

In July 2009, on Montenegro's third anniversary as an independent state, President of Ukraine Victor Yushchenko sent his congratulation to President of Montenegro Filip Vujanovic.[8] Later that month Ukraine's Deputy Premier for European and International Integration met his Montenegrin counterpart and expressed support for Montenegro's aspirations for European integration.[9]

Since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Montenegrin parliament passed a resolution in July 2022 condemning the invasion. Montenegrin Prime Minister Dritan Abazovic visited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv in June 2022, where Abazovic supported the initiative for Ukraine to obtain candidate status for EU membership.[10] They then signed a joint declaration in December 2022 on the Euro-Atlantic perspective of Ukraine, pledging military and humanitarian support but also promising to receive Ukrainian refugees.[11][12]

Montenegrin Prime Minister Milojko Spajić met Zelenskyy at the Berlin Ukraine Recovery Conference in June 2024. Spajić stated that the event was a "real opportunity to show our friends from Ukraine that they are not alone" and that he wanted to "reiterate that Montenegro stands fully with Ukraine".[13]

Agreements

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In September 2006, the two countries agreed to cooperate in fighting money laundering.[14] In March 2008, Ukraine said it was initiating an agreement on visa free travel with Montenegro.[15] In October 2008, the Foreign Ministers of Ukraine and Montenegro initialed an agreement on friendship and cooperation between two countries.[16] In June 2009 the two governments signed an agreement on mutual assistance in customs matters.[17]

Human trafficking

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Montenegro has been identified as a transit point for human trafficking between Ukraine and the European Union.[2] Vulnerable groups in Ukraine include women in prostitution, unaccompanied foreign minors, ethnic Romani and foreign construction workers.[18] The "Balkan route" is a notorious path for sex-trade traffickers from Eastern European countries such as Ukraine.[19] However, Montenegro has denied UN allegations on human trafficking.[20]

Resident diplomatic missions

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  • Montenegro has an embassy in Kyiv.
  • Ukraine has an embassy in Podgorica.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "PRESS RELEASE: Government of the Republic of Ukraine recognizes the Republic of Montenegro as an independent and sovereign state". Montenegro Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 15 June 2006. Retrieved 2009-08-02. [dead link‍]
  2. ^ a b "Trafficking in Persons Report 2009 - Montenegro". United States Department of State. Archived from the original on 2012-10-08. Retrieved 2009-08-02.
  3. ^ "Montenegrin President Filip Vujanovic visits Ukraine". ForUm. 27 September 2006. Archived from the original on 2007-12-14. Retrieved 2009-08-02.
  4. ^ "Yushchenko meets Filip Vujanovic". UNIAN Agency. 2006-09-27. Retrieved 2009-08-02.
  5. ^ "H.E. Dr. Željko Radulovic presents his letters of credence to the President of Ukraine". Njegoskij Fund. 16 October 2008. Archived from the original on 2009-01-07. Retrieved 2009-08-02.
  6. ^ "Ukraine replaces ambassador to Montenegro". UNIAN Kyiv. 1 December 2008. Retrieved 2009-08-02.
  7. ^ "Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Igor Lukšic, PhD, met with the Ambassador of Ukraine Ms. Oksana Slyusarenko". Montenegro Ministry of Finance. Feb 11, 2009. Archived from the original on March 17, 2009. Retrieved 2009-08-02.
  8. ^ "Yushchenko congratulated President of Montenegro". UNIAN News Agency. 2009-07-13. Retrieved 2009-08-02.
  9. ^ "Ukraine backs Montenegro's Eurointegration bids". Black Sea Association of National News Agencies. 2009-07-15. Archived from the original on 2011-10-04. Retrieved 2009-08-02.
  10. ^ "Abazović, Rama i Kovačevski podržali inicijativu da Ukrajina dobije status kandidata za članstvo u EU". Government of Montenegro. 15 June 2022. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
  11. ^ "Two Years On, Balkan States Remain Divided Over Ukraine War". balkaninsight. 24 February 2024. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
  12. ^ "Montenegro Reaffirms Its Support For Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic Path". Radio Free Europe. 5 December 2022. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
  13. ^ "Spajić in Berlin: Ukraine is not alone, Europe is united in difficult times". Government of Montenegro. 11 June 2024. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
  14. ^ "Ukraine and Montenegro to cooperate fighting money laundering". ForUM Agency. 21 September 2006. Archived from the original on 2011-07-11. Retrieved 2009-08-02.
  15. ^ "Ukraine Initiating Visa Free Regime With Montenegro". Park.ru (Russia). 2008-03-24. Retrieved 2009-08-02.[permanent dead link‍]
  16. ^ "Foreign Ministers of Ukraine and Montenegro initiale agreement on friendship and cooperation between two countries". The National Radio Company of Ukraine. 2008-10-14. Archived from the original on 2010-12-06. Retrieved 2009-08-02.
  17. ^ "State Customs Service: Agreement between Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and Government of Montenegro on mutual assistance in customs matters signed". Ukrainian government. 2009-06-18. Retrieved 2009-08-02.
  18. ^ H. Richard Friman, Simon Reich (2007). Human Trafficking, Human Security, and the Balkans. Univ of Pittsburgh Press. p. 69ff. ISBN 978-0-8229-5974-8.
  19. ^ "Sex Traffickers Prey On Eastern Europeans". Radio Free Europe. 23 August 2005. Retrieved 2009-08-02.
  20. ^ "Montenegrin official condemns UN human trafficking report". BBC Monitoring International Reports. 25 May 2003. Retrieved 2009-08-02.
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