The president of the Atlas Group and the University Mediterranean dr Dusko Knezevic was awarded for leadership by the Center for Transatlantic Relations Relations Johns Hopkins University in Washington.

Awards, which are given to influential political, business and academic leaders of the Mediterranean countries and the United States, were handed over last night at a ceremony in Washington within the framework of the Transatlantic Economic Forum. The forum was held on 5 and 6 December at the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), Johns Hopkins University, organized by the Center for Transatlantic Relations and the American Chamber of Commerce.
The President of Atlas Group was given the Leadership Award for the Mediterranean (Mediterranean SAIS Leadership Award) for social engagement through education and philanthropy, contribution in strengthening positive trends of interdependence in the Western Balkans, as well as for promoting transatlantic values through cooperation in the region. On behalf of the organizers of the Forum, the award was handed over by the Congressman Robert Aderholt. Dr Knezevic who participated in the award ceremony, presented Montenegro on the Western Balkans Panel which was moderated by Michael Haltzel, the senior partner of the Center for Transatlantic Relations and former adviser to the current US Vice President Joe Biden. The panel highlighted Montenegro as a positive example of prosperity and stability in the region, despite all the challenges of the current geopolitical situation. In this context, the President of the Atlas Group and Haltzel stressed the importance of fast ratification of NATO protocol on the accession of Montenegro in the US Senate.