Montenegro stability factor in region, Slovenian FM says

Podgorica, Montenegro (1 June 2012) – Slovenia has been providing continual support to Montenegro’s EU and NATO bid, and it, in particular, welcomes the reforms that the Government has been pursuing in that regard, Slovenian Foreign Minister Karl Erjavec said at the meeting with Prime Minister Igor Lukšić in Podgorica.

“The two neighbourly countries have to further enhance cooperation in the integration process. Montenegro has been recognised as a stability factor in the region, which has been making visible progress towards EU and NATO membership,” he underlined.

The two officials discussed the results of the recent NATO Summit in Chicago in the light of clear encouragement to Montenegro’s membership in that organisation.

“Slovenia, as Montenegro’s contact country for NATO, played an important role in implementing reforms in the area significant for Montenegro’s accession to NATO. We will continue to pursue the agenda with the view of meeting the key foreign policy objective,” PM Lukšić noted.

Montenegro and Slovenia, the two officials remarked, enjoy excellent political relations, accompanied with good economic cooperation. However, they agreed, there is room for intensifying economic relations in the fields of energy, tourism and trade.

The two countries will continue cooperation through development assistance projects, bearing in mind huge Montenegro’s potentials in all areas, the meeting concluded.