Kosovo: Montenegro’s European and Euro-Atlantic progress is an incentive for Kosovo to move forward in these processes

Pristina, Kosovo (28 February 2014) -- Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Igor Lukšić paid an official visit to Kosovo, at the invitation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs Enver Hoxhaj. In addition to his host, DPM Lukšić also met with Parliament Speaker Jakup Krasniqi and Prime Minister Hashim Thaci. The It was noted during the meetings that Montenegro’s European and Euro-Atlantic progress is an incentive for Kosovo to move forward in these processes and that Montenegro and Kosovo are boosting their capacities in all areas by providing mutual support.

“Montenegro and Kosovo have no open issues and are the best example of constructive neighbourly and bilateral relations,” the two ministers concluded at their meeting in Pristina. The Ministers remarked that the excellent relations should be used to introduce concrete activities and projects that would lead to an improved quality of life of citizens. They noted the need to finalise a number of bilateral agreements, invest in infrastructure, and projects aimed at boosting economic cooperation.

The ministers announced the opening of Kosovo’s embassies in Montenegro, due to take place in 2014, and the soon-to-come border demarcation agreement and related agreements, which, as the ministers stated, could be complete in the second half of 2014.

Minister Hoxhaj reiterated that the Kosovo Government advocates full integration, protection, and promotion of all minority communities in Kosovo, and reconfirmed the Kosovo Government’s readiness to solve the issue of constitutional recognition of the Montenegrin national minority as soon as possible having in mind domestic political dynamics. He noted that he will especially support the employment of Montenegrin community members in public institutions and companies, which will provide an important incentive to their lasting social and economic integration.

The officials agreed that legal basis for cooperation is a priority bilateral activity and they agreed to finalise the agreements in the area of culture, tourism, and economy, and that they should sign in the nearest future the set of agreements related to home affairs. With the view to improve bilateral cooperation, they agreed to sign protocols that would define the establishment of a specialised commission for improving cooperation in economy, trade, and tourism. They also agreed to host a business forum and Kosovo suggested an event aimed at tourist promotion. They also spoke about establishing and inter-governmental body tasked to deal with property rights.

Minister Lukšić voiced the Government’s full support to Kosovo’s participation in all regional initiatives. A special attention was drawn to cooperation in European and Euro-Atlantic integration. The two officials also signed a memorandum on cooperation in European integration.

Minister Lukšić and Parliament Speaker Jakup Krasniqi stated that minorities are an important link that helps further improve bilateral relations. In that regard, Deputy Prime Minister Lukšić raised the issue of the need to recognise constitutionally as soon as possible the Montenegrin minority in Kosovo.

Krasniqi confirmed readiness and political will to meet the long-standing demands of the Montenegrin community and he informed Mr Lukšić that the request will be solved in the nearest future. He also noted that Kosovo recognises the Montenegrin minority even now and that they aim to ensure their representation at all levels and ascribe great importance to their participation in the elections. He informed Minister Lukšić that he will invest extra efforts to ensure greater representation of the Montenegrin community in the Kosovo institutions.

Deputy Prime Minister also met with Prime Minister Hashim Thaci, with whom he discussed the two countries’ European future and the need to enhance cooperation in the area of economy.

The two sides noted that Pristina-Belgrade dialogue and the normalisation of their relations has contributed to a positive atmosphere in the entire region. In the context of EU integration, the two officials noted that the current moment needs to be seized to improve economic relations and act together in the area of infrastructure and concrete citizen-oriented projects.

Mr Lukšić congratulated Kosovo officials on opening negotiations about the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) and offered to the Kosovo side the accumulated experience from the hitherto process of accession negotiations.

Deputy Prime Minister Igor Lukšić met earlier today the representatives of Montenegrin associations in Kosovo, who informed him of their activities aimed at preserving and strengthening Montenegrin identity and visibility in Kosovo. The Minister informed the representatives about the draft Law on Diaspora which will regulate for the first time the support programmes aimed at helping the emigrant associations and the status of our diaspora in their countries. He noted that Montenegro will continue providing mechanisms that would help preserve the identity of the Montenegrin community in Kosovo.