The Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) made its first dedicated visit to Montenegro from March 18–22, 2024, on behalf of the Committee. These visits are carried out by CTED in order to evaluate Member States’ counterterrorism activities, taking into account achievements, best practices, obstacles still to be overcome, and areas of greatest need for technical support in order to carry out the pertinent Security Council resolutions in an efficient manner.
The visits continue to be one of the most important ways for the Counter-Terrorism Committee to interact and have a positive conversation with Member States in order to accomplish the full and efficient implementation of the pertinent counterterrorism resolutions from the Security Council.
The visiting delegation, which included CTED experts on criminal justice, international and regional cooperation, financial law and practice, law enforcement and border control, countering violent extremism conducive to terrorism, and human rights, was led by Mr. Ahmed Seif El-Dawla, CTED Chief of Section for Europe, Central Asia, and the Middle East. The delegation included experts from various United Nations entities and international organizations, including the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The delegation was able to evaluate Montenegro’s adoption of steps to carry out Security Council resolutions 1373 (2001), 1624 (2005), 2178 (2014), 2396 (2017), 2462 (2019) and 2617 (2021) through the visit.
Expert discussions during the visit to Montenegro centred on the following topics: measures to combat violent extremism, implementation of a national integrated and comprehensive counter-terrorism strategy, international cooperation in criminal matters, measures to counter terrorist financing, law enforcement, border management, aviation and maritime security, and responses to terrorism through the criminal justice system. During the talks, other topics covered included the human rights implications of Montenegro’s counterterrorism policies as well as the contribution of women to the fight against terrorism and violent extremism that fosters terrorism.
In addition, the delegation had separate talks with representatives of civil society organizations, the OSCE mission in Montenegro, the European Union delegation, and the UN Resident Coordinator. The delegation conducted on-site visits to Podgorica International Airport and the Port of Bar.
