DPM Ivanović delivers closing lecture at "Gavro Vuković" summer school for young diplomats

Deputy Prime Minister for Foreign and European Affairs Filip Ivanović delivered a closing lecture at the 19th "Gavro Vuković" International Summer School for Young Diplomats, which brought together young diplomats from forty-eight countries around the world from 21 to 26 June.

Addressing the participants, the Deputy Prime Minister emphasised that over the course of nearly two decades, the "Gavro Vuković" Summer School has developed into one of the most important platforms for the professional development of young diplomats, reinforcing Montenegro's reputation as a country committed to dialogue, multilateralism and European values.

In that context, he recalled that the foundations of modern Montenegrin diplomacy were laid as early as 1874 with the establishment of the Office for Foreign Affairs. He particularly highlighted that Gavro Vuković, after whom the Summer School is named, was Montenegro's first appointed diplomat and one of its first ministers of foreign affairs. His dedicated diplomatic service, statesmanship and unwavering commitment to protecting national interests left a lasting mark on the history of the Montenegrin diplomacy and paved a path that continues to inspire pride among generations of the Montenegrin diplomats.

We live in a time of rapid geopolitical change, emerging security challenges and technological transformations that are reshaping the way states cooperate. For this very reason, diplomacy remains an indispensable instrument for preserving peace, building mutual trust and finding sustainable solutions to shared challenges. Investing in young diplomats means investing in a safer and more stable future, Ivanović said.

Speaking about this year's theme of the Summer School – From Rules to Reality: Diplomacy in the Age of Motion – the Deputy Prime Minister noted that it aptly reflects today's international environment, in which successful diplomacy is called upon to translate the universal principles of international law and multilateral cooperation into concrete policies that deliver tangible benefits to citizens and contribute to global stability.

Reflecting on Montenegro's European path, Ivanović stressed that membership in the European Union remains the country's strategic priority. He underscored that a modern, professional and credible diplomatic service is one of the key prerequisites for effectively representing national interests, strengthening Montenegro's international image and safeguarding the rules-based international order.

The diplomacy of the future will not be measured solely by the number of agreements concluded, but by our ability to build trust among people, societies and states. In a rapidly changing world, a diplomat's greatest strengths will be integrity, knowledge, openness to dialogue, and the willingness to understand different perspectives. I am confident that the friendships and professional ties you have established during this week will endure far beyond the Summer School itself and serve as a foundation for future international cooperation, DPM Ivanović concluded.

By bringing together young diplomats from several continents, distinguished international lecturers and senior government officials, the Summer School once again confirmed its status as one of the region's most prestigious educational and diplomatic initiatives, further promoting Montenegro as a venue for international dialogue and the exchange of diverse perspectives.