Closing of the 12th Montenegrin Summer School for Young Diplomats „Gavro Vuković“

Daniela Gašparíková, UNDP Resident Representative to Montenegro:

July 5, 2019

Daniela Gašparíková, UNDP Resident Representative to Montenegro

Closing of the 12th Montenegrin Summer School for Young Diplomats "Gavro Vuković"

Dear Minister Pažin,

Dear young diplomats,

Congratulations!

Today, we stand in front of the 12th generation of aspiring young diplomats, who gathered in Montenegro for the Summer School Gavro Vuković.

We all have a reason to be proud, as you are joining the powerful alumni comprised of more than 550 of your peers from more than 65 countries. You should think of it as one big close-knit community, that you can resort to at any time – for support, exchange of ideas or simply for networking.

Proliferating information and new technologies remove all barriers that once limited cooperation and networking expansion – giving us an array of means and ways to work as a team. In today’s world, value and attractiveness of any networks is derived from the frequency, breadth and relevance of the connections its participants create.

Cooperation was in the focus of your sessions in Montenegro: and that is with a reason. To survive in the ‘VUCA’ times - when volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity are becoming a norm: we can’t have the luxury of working in silos within our country borders.  Disconnectedness can only bring human and financial toll – and none of our countries can afford that. I believe you are painstakingly aware of the complexity of challenges the world faces today and that you will stand united to resolve them.

In that context, this Summer School has already transcended many borders and became recognisable in every corner of the earth. With pride it wears the name of the first Montenegrin diplomat, Gavro Vukovic – as it positioned the country on the global diplomacy map.

This small but strong country has been recognised as a factor of stability in the region, but thanks to this school it is becoming recognised as a hub from where diplomacy efforts aspire to sustain global peace and security.

Wishing you all the success, I trust you will carry out the mission left to you as a legacy from this school – to stay connected to shape a better future.