Statement by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ervin Ibrahimović

Dear citizens,

I wish to inform you that the first evacuation flight of our nationals has been successfully organized, and that an aircraft carrying more than 70 passengers has departed from the airport in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, bound for Podgorica. On board are Montenegrin citizens who had been staying in Jordan and Egypt for tourism purposes, for whom the Government of Montenegro, in cooperation with Air Montenegro, arranged a charter flight.

I am also pleased to announce the organization of another charter flight with Flydubai, which will tomorrow transport all interested Montenegrin citizens – approximately 160 of them – from the United Arab Emirates to Podgorica.

Unfortunately, we are witnessing an escalation of the security situation and rising tensions in countries of the Middle East. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which I head, is making maximum efforts, in continuous communication with our colleagues in Montenegro’s embassies, competent consulates, and honorary consuls, to ensure timely communication and provide the necessary assistance to our citizens currently located in the Gulf countries who wish to return to Montenegro.

I take this opportunity to call on our citizens to follow the service information issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as the instructions of the competent local authorities.

I hope that the situation will de-escalate as soon as possible and that our citizens will soon be safely reunited in their homes.