Time To Say Goodbye

It is a pleasure to write for this first Montenegro edition of Diplomacy and Commerce magazine!

With just a few days remaining of my mandate as British Ambassador to Montenegro, I find myself reflecting on the unique experience of serving in this part of the world.

On the surface we see a country touted as one of Europe’s top tourist destinations. It’s a small country but Montenegro offers stunning coastal beauty, Venetian-era old towns, and snowtopped mountains that plunge into the bays. And indeed 2022 saw the highest ever number of British tourists to visit this country. But Montenegro is about so much more than its touristic appeal. It has a rich history, it is a proud nation with a distinct culture, with a heritage of the stories of national heroes.

In the three years I have served here, that proud sense of identity has come to the fore in the political sphere. I have witnessed a country that has gone through a transition process as it develops into a diverse democracy, with multiple groups clamouring for their voices to be heard. In my short tenure I have seen the rise and fall of three governments, and a period of political change and instability. But ultimately this has provided an outlet for the social tensions of the past to be expressed through the ballot box, as it should be in a maturing democracy.

Throughout all of the political changes, Montenegro has consistently expressed its commit- ment to Euro-Atlantic values; its membership of NATO and its ambitions to become the next member of the EU. The British government is supporting this journey of political and democratic transition because we have so many shared interests – our values, and even our sense of humour. We have both benefited from a long and warm bilateral relationship –this year celebrating 145 years of diplomatic relations. It is a friendship between our government that allows for frank discussion and mutual support, and we have thriving cooperation in areas including defence, tackling serious and organised crime, strengthening state and democratic institutions, inclu- sion, and economic governance. Montenegro’s vibrant political life is the backdrop in a country with big ambitions. Podgorica itself has changed in my time here. Economic activity is visibly evident in the growth of new developments and infrastructure, the completion of new roads (including the controversial but super-convenient first highway), and new border crossings, and there are ambitious plans (which will be considered now by the newly-elected next government) to expand the production of renewable energy, to build further roads and railways, to revitalise the airports, as well as to open up new sectors like the IT and gaming industries.

As an embassy, alongside the international community, we have worked on projects to strengthen the business environment. There is some way to go – but this means of course there are investment opportunities for those looking for a challenge. There is already growing interest from British companies in moving in to Montenegro, and the rewards will be there for this country and its foreign investors if Montenegro’s economic, democratic and rule of law reforms can be quickly realised.

The last three years have been a time of change in this country, and it has been a privilege to be a witness to it. I will leave with warm impressions of a beautiful country whose people are passionate for their voices to be heard, who have resilience and courage, warmth and a large dose of humour, and always with the capacity to surprise us all.