Governor Receives Official Delegation from Montenegro
October 6, 2009
AUGUSTA – Governor John E. Baldacci hosted a luncheon today at the Blaine House in honor of an official visit from the country of Montenegro. The Montenegrin delegation, led by Minister of Defense Boro Vucinic, came to Maine as part of a larger visit that included multiple stops in the Washington, D.C., area.
As part of the National Guard State Partnership Program, Maine and Montenegro have enjoyed a relationship that includes sharing information and support in an effort to build and improve relationships between the State and Montenegro. The program's goals reflect an evolving international affairs mission for the National Guard, to promote regional stability and civil-military relationships in support of U.S. policy objectives.
“With exchanges like this, we will continue to build bridges to our friends and allies around the world,” said Governor Baldacci. “I’m proud to welcome this delegation to Maine, and I look forward to continued strong relations in the future.”
Montenegro became an independent country in 2006 and later that year the State of Maine’s partnership with the country was established. In 2007, the President Vujanocvic visited Maine. Since then, the State has expanded its outreach to Montenegro to include economic development and tourism, higher education, public safety and emergency management.
A scholarship was established earlier this year at the University of Maine to encourage students from Montenegro to study in Maine. The two-year graduate tuition scholarship is for a student from the University of Montenegro to pursue a graduate degree at University of Maine in any field in which a degree is offered. The first student is expected to start in January 2010, under this program.
