Slovakian President: Montenegro’s future is in the EU and NATO

Podgorica, Montenegro (13 September 2011) – In the past several months Montenegro has undertaken very dynamic reform efforts regarding European integration, which should be continued in the future, and Slovakia will continue providing support for those efforts, President of Slovakia Ivan Gašparovič said at today’s meeting with Prime Minister Igor Lukšić.

President Gašparovič welcomed the compromise Mr Lukšić’s Government reached with the opposition regarding the language issue and he praised Montenegro’s reform related to EU and NATO integration. As concerns regional integration efforts, he and Prime Minister Lukšić concluded that the future of Montenegro and the Western Balkans lies within the EU and NATO.

Prime Minister Lukšić stressed that Montenegro wishes to remain a reliable partner to the international community and underlined that the Government is determined to continue its efforts to further Montenegro’s international economic and political position. By the same token, he said that President Gašparovič’s visit will help enhance the economic and political cooperation between Montenegro and Slovakia, especially in the areas of tourism and trade.