Montenegrin Minister of Justice visits United Kindgom
Main purpose of the visit was to sign a bilateral Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the rule of law
Montenegrin Minister of Justice with Minister for Europe at Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Montenegro’s Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister, Mr Dusko Markovic, and director of the Montenegrin Customs Administration, Mr Vladan Jokovic, visited the UK this week to sign a bilateral Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the rule of law.
Signing the agreement on 10 November, Secretary to the UK Treasury, Mr David Gauke, and Minister Markovic agreed that the Memorandum demonstrated that excellent political relations helped to intensify operational cooperation in areas of common interest. Both sides welcomed existing positive cooperation in these areas, including the sharing of good practice and training between police and customs services.
Minister Markovic also met Minister of State at the Home Office, James Brokenshire, discussing Montenegro’s progress in enhancing the rule of law on its EU accession path. The Ministers discussed migration and asylum issues, as well as foreign fighters travelling to war-zones. Minister Markovic informed his hosts of the Centre for Asylum Seekers, as well as the proposal for amendment of the Criminal Code that will incriminate not only direct participation, but all other forms of participation in foreign conflicts, including through fund-raising or logistical support, by the end of this year. Minister Brokenshire expressed his gratitude to Montenegro for the excellent cooperation of law enforcement bodies and pointed out that the signing of the Memorandum marked a new phase in relations between the two countries.
On Tuesday 11 November, Minister Markovic was due to meet Secretary of State for Justice, Mr Chris Grayling, Minister for Europe at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Mr David Lidington, and the Attorney General, Jeremy Wright. He will also be meeting high level officials at the Crown Prosecution Service and judges of the UK’s High Court, to discuss mechanisms to strengthen the efficiency and effectiveness of the Montenegrin justice system.