German FM Guido Westerwelle makes first visit to Montenegro, welcomes PM Lukšić’s commitment to reform

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• German FM Guido Westerwelle pledges German support to Montenegro’s EU bid and underlines importance of meeting accession requirements
• PM Lukšić announces consultations with the opposition in order to break the election law deadlock in the Parliament and meet a key requirement for launch of EU entry talks

Podgorica, Montenegro (9 August 2011) -- Prime Minister Igor Lukšić met with German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle earlier today, which marked the beginning of the first official visit by a German FM to Montenegro since the country regained independence in 2006.

Addressing a joint press conference after the meeting, PM Luksic expressed his discontent with the Montenegrin Parliament's failure to pass the new election law, which is one of the key requirements for the opening of EU entry talks.

To this end, the PM announced that, in the coming days, he would initiate political consultations between the government and the opposition about Montenegro’s EU agenda, in an effort to break the election law deadlock in the national assembly and surmount all other differences that threaten to hinder Montenegro’s EU bid.

Mr Westerwelle expressed German support for Montenegro’s EU bid and praised the Prime Minister's decision to put the question of free elections at the top of the national agenda. He noted that his visit was a token of encouragement to Montenegro to continue to move further on its European path.

Asked about the economic ties between the two countries, the German Foreign Minister underlined the importance of good environment and legal certainty for investment and welcomed PM Lukišić’s commitment to internal economic reform, which he said was a precondition for Montenegro’s EU integration and better living standards for its citizens.