Representatives of Montenegrin Emergency Management Directorate at ITF Headquarters

ITF has been present and active in Montenegro since 2002, as the country tackles issues of unexploded ordnance on its border with Croatia and in municipalities of Plav and Rožaje near the Albanian and Serbian border. Excess of unstable ammunition, contamination from unexploded sub-munitions and underwater explosive remnants of the second World war are one the most urgent areas, where Montenegro will need direct assistance in the future.

Due to the ERW risk issues  ITF and Government of  Montenegro signed a memorandum of understanding on 19 July 2018, which officially establishes the already existing long-term cooperation between ITF and the government of Montenegro. The signed document will also allow the implementation of activities of conventional weapons destruction and physical security and stockpile management.

On 12 November ITF Director Amb Lovrenčič kindly welcomed Mr Mirsad Mulić, General Director of Ministry of Interior (MoI) – Emergency Management Directorate, and Mr Milovan Joksimović, Head of UXO department MoI Emergency Management Directorate, at ITF headquarters in order to discuss possible activities in the future.

The discussion focused mainly on the implementation of the existing program in Montenegro and the possible future cooperation. Latter will be necessary as Montenegro is still facing different ERW threats, from underwater UXO contamination, residual contamination from the world wars, cluster munitions, to unplanned explosions of ammunition storages.