Slovakia impressed by Montenegro achivements, says DPM Kalinak

Podgorica, Montenegro (6 June 2012) – Montenegro has developed an impressive track record in the last 6 years, bearing in mind the fact that the EU accession process is demanding and long lasting, and that his country took 11 years to become an EU member state, Slovakia's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior Robert Kalinak told the press following his meeting with Montenegrin Minister of the interior Ivan Brajović on Tuesday.

“If you continue with this pace of reform, you will become EU member state in a shorter period of time than we used to,“ he stressed.

He noted that Slovakia's support for Montenegro remains indisputable, as international cooporation is always beneficial to everyone, and in particular as the Montenegrin and Slovak peoples share similar positions on the isuues of freedom and independance.

Minister Brajović informed his Slovak counterpart about the Ministry's activities, especially in the areas of protection and rescue, public administration reform, police cooperation and integated border management. He thanked Minister Kalinak for the Slovak Government's assistance during severe weather condition in Montenegro and expressed the Government readiness to continue cooperation in all fields.

The two interior ministers signed on Tuesday the agreement on cooperation between the two governments and mutual assistance in cases of natural and other disasters, and the police cooperation agreement between the two interior ministries. The two officials also signed the Protocol on implementing the Agreement between the European Community and Montenegro on the readmission of persons residing without authorisation.