November 9, 2018 - Citizens of Montenegro, holders of ordinary passports, can travel without a visa to 100 countries around the world, while holders of diplomatic and official documents can travel to 109 countries, it was announced after the government session. The government adopted the Information on the Visa Policy. According to the Public Relations Service, the discussion emphasized that Montenegro, bearing in mind the need to harmonize the visa policy with the European Union (EU) regulations, implemented the Schengen Action Plan and met the provisional benchmarks in Chapter 24, to responsibly fulfill the obligations arising from the visa liberalization.
The visa regime and the conclusion of a series of bilateral agreements between Montenegro and other countries have resulted in the fact that Montenegrin citizens, ordinary passport holders, can travel to 100 countries around the world without visas (including those in which a visa can be obtained at a border crossing) while holders of diplomatic and official passports can travel without visa in 109," the statement said.
As it is added, citizens from 104 countries, holders of ordinary passports, as well as holders of diplomatic and official passports from 111 countries can enter Montenegro without a visa.
The government explained that, in order to simplify the process of receiving visa applications from countries where Montenegro does not have its diplomatic-consular representation, and whose citizens showed interest in coming to Montenegro, an online portal is created through which there is the possibility of applying for a Montenegrin visa.
According to them, the portal, with a secure communication link, is connected to the Visa Information System (VIS), which ensures the implementation of legally defined procedures for issuing visas.
"So far, the VIS has been installed in 24 representative offices, while in the coming period its installation will be performed in the remaining offices," the statement said.
The government has established the basis for conducting negotiations and concluding agreements between the governments of Montenegro and Paraguay on the abolition of visas for holders of ordinary, diplomatic, official or business passports.
Negotiations will be held with the Uruguayan Government on the abolition of visas for holders of diplomatic and official passports, as well as with the Government of China on the abolition of visas for holders of diplomatic, official and business passports and accepted the proposed agreements.
The Government also established the basis for conducting negotiations and concluding a cooperation agreement between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro and the Ministries of Italy and Turkey on visa issues and consular protection in a number of countries in which Montenegro does not have a consular representation, and accepted the proposed agreements.
Foreign Minister Srdjan Darmanovic said that the goal of all agreements is to extend the consular protection of the Montenegrin citizens.
The Government met with the GREVIO Committee's Report on the Evaluation of Legislative and Other Measures to Implement the Provisions of the Council of Europe Convention on the Prevention and Suppression of Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (Istanbul Convention).
A group of experts for combating the violence against women and domestic violence (GREVIO) is an independent body for monitoring human rights tasked to monitor the application of the Istanbul Convention.
"The report is the result of the first (basic) evaluation procedure conducted in relation to Montenegro. They incorporate the Convention as a whole, and therefore assess the level of harmonization of Montenegrin legislation and practice in all areas," the statement said.
Based on that evaluation, as it is added, measures are proposed to strengthen the application of the Convention and areas in which improvements are needed in order to fully comply with the obligations of the Convention. The report contains 44 recommendations at the national level. The conclusions that have been adopted should enable the full application of the Istanbul Convention. The Government also adopted the Report on realized activities on the preparation of Montenegro's participation at the World Expo 2020 Dubai Exhibition, a global discussion forum aimed at finding solutions to the universal challenges of our time.
The topic of the Universal Exhibition, which will be held from October 20th, 2020 to April 10th, 2021, is "Connecting Minds, Creating a Future" and encompassing three sub-themes: Opportunity, Mobility, and Sustainability.
Montenegro, as recalled from the Government, will perform at the Expo within the sub-theme "Sustainability".
"In the framework of the preparatory activities for the participation, the General Commissioner of the exhibition was appointed and the Decision on the Education of the Organizing Committee for Participation of Montenegro at the World Expo 2020 Dubai Exhibition was adopted," the statement concludes.
Text by MINA, on November 8th, 2018, read more at Vijesti
