Interview of Ambassador

Greece has done very well under the circumstances. The Government took immediate measures to prohibit the spread of the virus from the initial stages of the pandemic. As a recent poll showed, the restrictive measures have met with wide approval by the vast majority of citizens - 4 out of 5 agree with the restrictions. No death has been registered over Tuesday this week.

According to a recent analysis of "Bridge Tank", member of the think-tank group of G-20, on the outbreak of Covid -19 across Europe, Greece has faired the best followed by the Czech Republic and Romania.  Thanks to the early and strict containment measures, Greece managed to successfully flatten the curve and slow down the virus spread. The Government suspended public events and closed schools even before the first 100 cases were detected.

I experienced it starting with a 2-week long self isolation the first days of March, as I had just returned to Montenegro from a brief visit to Greece. As I reentered Montenegro, I received an SMS  from the Government, asking me that I confine myself to my house, and so I did. The pandemic did not cause any particular difficulties in the discharge of my duties. It clearly altered daily routine, as we had to shift our attention to pandemic-related issues, such as, for example, the repatriation of our nationals that wanted to return home. The Embassy did not shut down, but shifted to dealing with emergency cases. We also drastically cut personnel presence in the Embassy, so as to limit exposure to possible contamination.

In the initial stages of the pandemic, we all witnessed a strange period, in which quite a number of countries turned inwards. I suppose it could have been expected, since self-defense mechanisms are the first ones to be operationalized. As we were informed from the international press, some countries even withheld hygienic material that was transitting via their territory to other countries, while others forbade the export of such materials. But this did not last long. Soon enough, response mechanisms were devised and needs were communicated across borders, so that aid could start flowing. The European Union, for example, allocated considerable amounts internationally, including Montenegro, of course, among its recipients. A sum of 3 plus million Euro became readily available for Montenegro, and an additional 50 million Euro for midterm relief. The fight is not over. All member-states contributed to put that package together.

On the part of European Union, relief was decided for all Western Balkan countries, amounting to 350 million Euro. Other countries moved on a bilateral basis too, to send aid. NATO devised a mechanism to review requests, so as to allocate aid as need would dictate. Individual actors moved in, as well, to contribute to national efforts. As for Montenegro, whose efforts I followed from the very beginning, measures taken were resolute and very efficient. The threat is still here, but now we are all better organized to face it. The public has become better informed, so it can cooperate better by observing measures taken. As we seem to be moving to the "day after", we must all remain vigilant, so what we all had to sacrifice will not go in vain.

I extend my warmest wishes to beautiful Montenegro and its friendly people. We have to stick together in this, and we will all win.