“It is with great pleasure that I welcome the arrival of Montenegro as the 192nd Member of our Organization,” said the Director-General of UNESCO, Mr. Koïchiro Matsuura, who added that “UNESCO now has as many members as the United Nations.”

The Director-General further said: “Cooperation with Montenegro is certainly not new. We are used to working together, whether in education, on projects that are part of the strengthening of cooperation in South-East Europe, or on the medieval city of Kotor and the National Park of Durmitor, both inscribed on the World Heritage List. I rejoice at the reinforcement of this cooperation. Montenegro will bring to UNESCO particular competencies, notably in the promotion of sustainable development and intercultural dialogue. The priority given to education by the Government of Montenegro is an added asset for this cooperation.”

Before Montenegro, Brunei Darussalam became a Member State of UNESCO in 2005. In 2003, Timor-Leste joined the Organization and the United States of America returned. Montenegro joined the United Nations Organization in June 2006.