Slovak President Receives Prime Minister of Monte Negro Milo Đukanović

President of the Slovak Republic Ivan Gašparovič received Prime Minister of Monte Negro Milo Đukanović on Wednesday, 17 April, in the Presidential Palace in Bratislava.
At the beginning of the meeting, the Slovak head of state said: “I believe that your newly appointed government will continue reforms so that you could join the EU and NATO in the shortest time possible.”

During the talks with the Montenegrin Prime Minister Ivan Gašparovič further added he believed that the Western Balkans would become a prospering region once it was integrated within the euro-Atlantic structures. “Slovakia strongly cares to see that your integration visions be fulfilled, and we will assist you in that,” the Slovak President said.

At the meeting with Milo Đukanović the Slovak President also emphasised that bilateral economic cooperation needed to be intensified.

Milo Đukanović thanked Slovakia for its consistent policy towards Monte Negro. “Our cooperation has taken on a systematic dimension and we greatly appreciate all the assistance and help provided by Slovakia,” he said. “Your experience with the accession to the EU and NATO is very useful for Monte Negro,” Đukanović added.

According to Đukanović, the Montenegrin government will need to win a broader public support, in particular with respect to the country’s integration in the North Atlantic Alliance. “Our goal is to receive an invitation to join NATO next year and we will want to set up our negotiation team which should more intensively continue pre-accession talks with the EU,” the Montenegrin Prime Minister pointed out.

The Slovak President also wanted to know the Montenegrin Prime Minister's opinion on the situation in the Western Balkan region. According to Ivan Gašparovič, Monte Negro’s relationships with neighbouring countries will be important for its future membership of the EU.

Milo Đukanović agreed with the opinion that the Western Balkans “may only be stabilised through euro-Atlantic integration.” There is no room from manoeuvring and seeking alternatives in this region, he added.