Roberto Montella and Azay Guliyev meet with Andrija Mandić in Budva, 5 May 2025BUDVA, 6 May 2025 – Several OSCE parliamentarians participated this week in the fifth International Parliamentary Conference of the Silk Road Group, which brought together policymakers, business leaders and representatives of international organizations in Budva, Montenegro, for discussions on sustainable tourism, clean energy and ecological balance.
Andrija Mandić, President of the Parliament of Montenegro, addressed the opening session on Monday with remarks that focused on the importance of developing of joint economic co-operation and promoting trade ties, as well as the development of transport corridors and the free and safe flow of people, goods, services, and capital.
“This common space of co-operation must be based on the principles of international law, the duties and values of the OSCE, as well as respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of each member state,” Mandić said.
Azay Guliyev (Azerbaijan), who serves as Chair of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s economic and environmental committee and the Silk Road Group, stressed the importance of inclusivity in building dialogue. In his opening remarks, Guliyev highlighted in this regard the activities of the Silk Road Group, which regularly meets on the sidelines of OSCE PA meetings and provides a forum for discussions on economic co-operation and innovation.
“Beyond dialogue, we have become a catalyst for activity, enabling economic partnerships, promoting intercultural exchange and initiatives related to climate change, digital integration and sustainable tourism,” Guliyev said.
OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Vice-President Kyriakos Hadjiyianni (Cyprus) emphasized that parliamentary diplomacy plays an essential role in shaping inclusive, forward-looking policies, particularly by ensuring that development is sustainable. Policymakers, he said, must invest in clean energy to preserve ecological balance.
OSCE PA Secretary General Roberto Montella also offered opening remarks, highlighting the importance of taking advantage of all opportunities to address common challenges in the OSCE area. “I am proud of the activities of our members, as they show great interest and capacity to work on security issues,” said Montella.
The two-day conference, hosted by the Montenegrin Parliament, brought together OSCE parliamentarians and various stakeholders for wide-ranging discussions. Participants in the thematic sessions of the conference include representatives of the Science and Technology Park of Montenegro, the Innovation Fund of Montenegro, the Chamber of Economy of Montenegro, and regional electric power companies, as well as a number of OSCE officials.
On the margins of the meeting, Chair Guliyev and Secretary General Montella met with Speaker Mandić for discussions that focused on Montenegro’s integration process with the European Union, and the importance that Montenegro attaches to the co-operation with the OSCE, which has a mission in Podgorica. Guliyev acknowledged Montenegro’s active commitment to multilateral dialogue and commended Montenegro for its impressive progress with reforms aimed at EU integration.
On Tuesday, Guliyev, Hadjiyianni and Montella took part in a tree-planting ceremony as part of the ecological project ‘One Tree per Country.’ The Budva conference ended with the adoption of a declaration that reaffirms the vital role of sustainable tourism as a catalyst for economic growth, intercultural understanding, environmental preservation, and climate action.
