Statement by DPM Lukšić following his meeting with Romanian Foreign Minister Titus Corlatean

Statement by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Igor Lukšić following his meeting with Romanian Foreign Minister Titus Corlatean in Podgorica

Ladies and Gentlemen,

First of all I would like to express satisfaction with the official visit of Minister Corlatean to Montenegro. At the very beginning I would like to take this opportunity to express on behalf of the Government of Montenegro, Montenegro and personally the deepest condolence in view of tragedy that has happened recently and that was the cause of sudden visit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania to Montenegro several days ago. We in Montenegro still feel disbelief due to everything that has happened, and apart from expressions of condolence to families, with whom our thoughts are, we also want speedy recovery of those who have survived and we understand that there are a number of passengers whose state is still critical. We hope that they will recover soon and that they will return to their homes so that result of tragedy would not increase.

What I would like to emphasise on this occasion is that we in Montenegro are really touched with attention that Romanian media have devoted to Montenegro as well as overall Romanian society by which they expressed their gratitude for our solidarity and for our efforts. Unfortunately, this tragedy has shown that there is huge friendship between our states, our people, that we are not maybe aware of, but it commits us to work further to strengthen cooperation. To that effect, what I would like to emphasise is that I am convinced that today’s visit, today’s signed agreements, memorandums between two Ministries symbolising cooperation between two governments will influence further cooperation reinforcement between our governments, our states and all that in the context of strengthening our European i.e. Euro Atlantic perspective. Accordingly we will identify possible forms of cooperation regarding economic cooperation, and we will strive to reinforce particularly that area with joint work. In that context we agreed that it is needed to realise idea for organising business forum until the end of this year. I am glad that the representative of the Ministry of Economy who will talk about that topic with his interlocutors in our Ministry of Economy and the Chamber of Commerce in order to intensify preparatory activities, is in the composition of delegation of Minister Corlatean.

What I would like to emphasise is that we have considered possibilities for joint initiatives and projects in the field of eco tourism, waste treatment and disposal in the context of European Union approachment, regarding the fact that Romania has experience that we can use to transfer it into our system being the country that has become recently member of European Union. What is also important to emphasise is that we have discussed possibilities for utilisation of experience of Romania in development and reform of regional, social and rural policy in pre-accession period and all that with a view to being prepared for utilisation of structural funds. We have agreed to intensify activities with a purpose of signing a number of bilateral agreements in the field of education, health care, culture and to our mutual satisfaction we have concluded that strengthening bilateral cooperation in the defence field is on the line of further implementation of the Agreement on Cooperation in the field of defence.

I would like to emphasise that Romanian experience might be of great significance for further reform in the field of rule of law and fight against organised crime, so that we have assessed that the Protocol that will be finalised soon between two Ministries of Justice, as well as agreements on cooperation that already exist between prosecutor’s organisation, might be good basis for implementation of those obligations from Action Plans for 23 and 24 that we have identified to that effect and that will be very important for our further integration efforts i.e. for our forthcoming opening of these two chapters, but for opening of a sequence of other chapters to that effect.
Once again I would like to take this opportunity to express gratitude for huge support that Romania provides for Montnegrin ambition for EU and NATO membership.