Spain and Italy support Montenegro’s EU and NATO integration

Rome, Italy (5 February 2013) – On the sidelines of the conference “New approaches to the Security Council Reform”, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Igor Lukšić met yesterday with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Italy Giulio Terzi and Spain's Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Gonzalo de Benito.

DPM Lukšić and Foreign Minister Terzi concluded that Montenegro and Italy are fostering good cooperation in many fields. The Italian Foreign Minister said Italy fully supports Montenegro and Western Balkan's integration into the EU and NATO.

DPM Lukšić said that he highly appreciates Italian support for the integration process and promotion of open door policy for new NATO members. DPM Lukšić stressed that Montenegro is fully committed to new approaches in the opening of new negotiation chapters and to the reforms in all fields.

The two officials underlined that Montenegro and Italy have developed very good cooperation in the field of economy, adding the two countries have to strengthen ties in many other fields of common interest through bilateral agreements.

Spain strongly supports Montenegro's accession into the European and Euro-Atlantic structures, Spain's Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Gonzalo De Benito pointed out at his meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Lukšić.

DPM Igor Lukšić said that the Government of Montenegro will soon appoint a non-resident ambassador to Spain. The meeting concluded that the two countries have to improve cooperation in terms of economy and other fields of common interest.