Montenegro and Serbia set to work closer on EU agenda

Belgrade, Serbia (20 July 2011) – Montenegrin Prime Minister’s first official visit to Serbia is important for building closer ties between the two countries, especially in the context of European integration, Prime Minister Igor Lukšić and Serbian President Boris Tadić agreed during their meeting in Belgrade earlier today.

They noted that the accession of the Western Balkans into the EU is one of the top regional priorities, as well as an imperative for achieving the region’s full stability and greater competitiveness internationally.

PM Lukšić said that Montenegro is on the right track to meet all the European Commission’s Opinion targets, expecting to receive, in October, a positive signal towards the launch of EU entry talks.

Furthermore, he praised the conclusion of the Croatia-EU accession talks as the region’s significant contribution to Europe, adding that Serbia's progress in the process is very important for the future of the region as well.

Serbian President Boris Tadić congratulated Montenegro on its progress in the processes of EU and NATO integration, which he described as a guarantee for the preservation of security and integrity.

During his visit to Serbia, Prime Minister Luksić also met with Serbian Parliament Speaker Slavica Đukic-Dejanović for talks on the two countries’ European aspirations and His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Irinej, with whom he discussed state-church relations.

At the audience with the Serbian Patriarch, the PM stressed the significance of continued dialogue in resolving all the issues between church and state, while respecting international and constitutional principles of their separation.