Serbia & Montenegro
Thirteenth session of the Commission on
Sustainable Development
21 April 2005 Check against delivery
STATEMENT
by
Mr. Sinisa Stankovic
Assistant Minister
Ministry of
Environmental Protection and Physical Planning of the
Republic of Montenegro
Mr. Chairman,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am honored to be able to address you on behalf of Serbia and Montenegro.
After the good results achieved in the course of the preparations for the 13th Session of the
Commission for Sustainable Development and, I believe, the conclusions whose implementation will
help improve the situation in area of water, sanitation and human settlements, we are still faced
with a task of working actively on their implementation. Regardless the differences among us not
only in terms of our economic, professional and technical capacities but also in terms of cultural
background and the degree of degradation of environment, I am sure that all of us agree that
awareness and commitment to protect basic living conditions will help overcome these differences
and mobilize our efforts to create the conditions for sustainable development and life worth of
living for our posterity.
In Serbia and Montenegro, defining polic ies in the field of water, sanitation and human
settlements lies exclusively within the competences of the member states. In line with the plan
adopted at the Summit on Sustainable Development held in Johannesburg in 2002, the
governments of Serbia and Montenegro have established their respective councils for sustainable
development. Serbia and Montenegro is strongly committed to the goals and plans set forth in the
Millennium Declaration. In that connection, both republics have adopted a series of strategic
documents.
The Republic of Serbia has adopted national strategic documents related to waste
management, employment, action plan for children, action plan for the Roma population and
development of agriculture, whereas the drafting of the National Strategy for Sustainable
Development is under way as well as strategic documents for housing polic ies, housing and
permanent integration of refugees in Serbia, local sustainable development and other documents
and laws.
With the support of the UN and other organizations and institutions, Serbia and Montenegro
has worked out its own strategies for poverty reduction.
I would like to remind you that Montenegro adopted its Declaration on Ecological State in
1991. That is why it devotes particular attention and invests efforts in programs related to
environmental protection despite numerous problems that it faces. Strategic plans for management
of solid and liquid waste disposal have been elaborated and the master plan for water supply and
Spatial plan for the Republic is to be adopted soon. Recently, the Action Plan for Housing Policy has
been reviewed for the adoption. It is the first strategic document that will contribute to solving the
problems of certain target groups: socially vulnerable groups, refugees and displaced persons, the
Roma and young people.
Serbia and Montenegro will soon have to address a more difficult task: the implementation
of these programs. Both republics need solid assistance, not only financial but also technical as
well as expertise and support. I am confident that our successful record of cooperation with
international organizations will be maintained and even expanded, since it is the interest of all.
Serbia and Montenegro is open for all models of cooperation, particularly trans-boundary because
the very questions and conclusions of the 13th Commission for Sustainable Development can
represent a significant incentive for further strengthening of mutual relationships and cooperation
with neighbors but also with all EU countries and the world.
Thank you for your attention.
Sustainable Development
21 April 2005 Check against delivery
STATEMENT
by
Mr. Sinisa Stankovic
Assistant Minister
Ministry of
Environmental Protection and Physical Planning of the
Republic of Montenegro
Mr. Chairman,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am honored to be able to address you on behalf of Serbia and Montenegro.
After the good results achieved in the course of the preparations for the 13th Session of the
Commission for Sustainable Development and, I believe, the conclusions whose implementation will
help improve the situation in area of water, sanitation and human settlements, we are still faced
with a task of working actively on their implementation. Regardless the differences among us not
only in terms of our economic, professional and technical capacities but also in terms of cultural
background and the degree of degradation of environment, I am sure that all of us agree that
awareness and commitment to protect basic living conditions will help overcome these differences
and mobilize our efforts to create the conditions for sustainable development and life worth of
living for our posterity.
In Serbia and Montenegro, defining polic ies in the field of water, sanitation and human
settlements lies exclusively within the competences of the member states. In line with the plan
adopted at the Summit on Sustainable Development held in Johannesburg in 2002, the
governments of Serbia and Montenegro have established their respective councils for sustainable
development. Serbia and Montenegro is strongly committed to the goals and plans set forth in the
Millennium Declaration. In that connection, both republics have adopted a series of strategic
documents.
The Republic of Serbia has adopted national strategic documents related to waste
management, employment, action plan for children, action plan for the Roma population and
development of agriculture, whereas the drafting of the National Strategy for Sustainable
Development is under way as well as strategic documents for housing polic ies, housing and
permanent integration of refugees in Serbia, local sustainable development and other documents
and laws.
With the support of the UN and other organizations and institutions, Serbia and Montenegro
has worked out its own strategies for poverty reduction.
I would like to remind you that Montenegro adopted its Declaration on Ecological State in
1991. That is why it devotes particular attention and invests efforts in programs related to
environmental protection despite numerous problems that it faces. Strategic plans for management
of solid and liquid waste disposal have been elaborated and the master plan for water supply and
Spatial plan for the Republic is to be adopted soon. Recently, the Action Plan for Housing Policy has
been reviewed for the adoption. It is the first strategic document that will contribute to solving the
problems of certain target groups: socially vulnerable groups, refugees and displaced persons, the
Roma and young people.
Serbia and Montenegro will soon have to address a more difficult task: the implementation
of these programs. Both republics need solid assistance, not only financial but also technical as
well as expertise and support. I am confident that our successful record of cooperation with
international organizations will be maintained and even expanded, since it is the interest of all.
Serbia and Montenegro is open for all models of cooperation, particularly trans-boundary because
the very questions and conclusions of the 13th Commission for Sustainable Development can
represent a significant incentive for further strengthening of mutual relationships and cooperation
with neighbors but also with all EU countries and the world.
Thank you for your attention.
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