PM Lukšić says region’s EU perspective certain, welcomes ‘the Catherine Ashton' treatment he got in Belgrade

PHOTO GALLERY

• Visiting Belgrade PM Lukšić makes his first official visit to a country in the region since taking office last December

• Montenegrin Prime Minster welcomes the arrest of Serbia’s last remaining major war crimes fugitives this morning

Belgrade, Serbia (20 July 2011) – Prime Minister Igor Lukšić met Serbia’s officials today as part of his first official visit to a country in the region since taking office last December. Speaking to the press following a conversation with Prime Minister Mirko Cvetković and the signing of two bilateral agreements, he underlined the importance of infrastructure projects of common interest, likelihood of both countries’ European perspective and his support for Serbia’s efforts in reform and integration processes.

PM Lukšić welcomed Serbia’s latest efforts to meet the EU accession requirements, adding that it is now clearer than ever that the two countries have an indisputable European perspective. “It turns out I’ve got the Catherine Ashton treatment,” the PM said jokingly, alluding to the EU High Representative’s visit to Belgrade on the day of the Mladic arrest, while his own visit coincided with the apprehension of Serbia’s last remaining major war crimes fugitive, Goran Hadžić, this morning.

“I truly desire for Serbia to receive the candidate status and a negotiation date [for EU accession], which, in addition to Montenegro’s receiving the negotiation date, would signify an ever more certain European perspective for our countries and I believe it would be a positive impulse for the rest of the region to continue with their integration efforts.”

Mr Cvetković welcomed his counterpart’s choice of Serbia for his first official visit in the region and underlined that, in their conversation, the two prime ministers put emphasis on the structural and economic ties between their countries, as well as on the issue of EU integration, which in Mr Cvetković’s words “is a shared goal of all the Western Balkan countries.”

“Serbia fully supports Montenegro on its EU integration path and in its aim to secure the entry talks date and we hope for Montenegro’s support to our endeavours to also become a candidate and get a negotiation date,” said the Serbian PM.

Mr Cvetković underlined that the technical cooperation between the two states is constantly improving, reiterating the importance of the agreements on avoiding double taxation and bilateral cooperation regarding savings in banks that were signed today. He also highlighted the paramount importance of building road infrastructure connecting Serbia and Montenegro and of the efforts to repair the railway, which in Mr Cvetković’s words, is very important since faster travel to the south of Montenegro is “Serbia’s closest access to the sea and a seaport.”

Montenegro’s Prime Minister reiterated that “the political dialogue between Serbia and Montenegro is on an upward curve,” and added that the two PM’s dedicated most of the meeting to “practical bilateral matters.”

“In the long run it is necessary to join forces in the projects of shared interest in infrastructure and energy that would enable us to reach, as quickly as possible, the level of purchasing power for our citizens comparable to that of the EU countries,” PM Lukšić concluded, explaining his position that Serbia and Montenegro need to make joint efforts to address the well-being of the two countries and their citizens.