Iceland strongly supports Montenegro’s EU and NATO integration

Podgorica, Montenegro (10 April 2013) – Earlier today, Prime Minister Milo Đukanović hosted the Speaker of Iceland’s Parliament Áste Jóhannesdóttir with whom he discussed the current political and economic developments and the future progress of the two countries’ relationship.

Montenegro and Iceland have excellent relations based on shared European goals and good cooperation, the meeting concluded.

In the coming period, the Government of Montenegro will primarily focus on investment projects in the areas of infrastructure, energy, tourism, and agriculture with the view to boosting its economic development, Prime Minister Đukanović noted. At the same time, he explained, we are working hard to meet the commitments on our European and Euro-Atlantic agenda and to reach our foreign policy priorities.

Ms Jóhannesdóttir said she was very pleased with the overall cooperation between the two states, voicing Iceland’s interest to enhance cooperation in a number of areas, especially in tourism.

Montenegro can count on Iceland’s strong support when it comes to the exchange of EU accession negotiation experience, and in NATO integration, bearing in mind Iceland is one of the Alliance’s founding members, she noted.

Ms Jóhannesdóttir said that Iceland is currently dealing with heavy blows of the economic crisis with great success, reminding that they suffered a number of restrictive economic measures along the way.

She reiterated that Iceland is very proud to be the first country that recognised Montenegro as an independent state and underlined Iceland’s readiness to undertake a number of projects that would contribute to a better bilateral relationship and further strengthening of economic, cultural, and education ties between Montenegro and Iceland.