Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, to boost cooperation in infrastructure, transport

Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina (3 June 2014) -- Cooperation between Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina is very diversified, and the two countries have established good communication and relations in almost all areas, Montenegro’s Prime Minister Milo Đukanović told the press earlier today following his meeting with Vjekoslav Bevanda, President of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

He particularly emphasised the significance of the agreement on state borders, which has been inked.

“It is the first agreement of that kind among the countries of the former Yugoslavia. I hope we will create conditions for signing and entering into force of the agreement and that will be a driving force for similar solutions among other countries of the former Yugoslavia," Prime Minister Đukanović said.

He said there is room for boosting economic cooperation and that it is necessary to identify and implement priority infrastructure projects as a precondition for accelerating economic growth, particularly referring to the projects of the Adriatic-Ionian motorway.

“It seems to me that we have been making vain attempts in order to animate the European Union to pay attention and to allocate funds for the development of this project. However, the positive signals that have been sent from the EU recently announce better climate for the project and similar projects in the region,” he underlined.

PM Đukanović also mentioned the project of Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAS).

“It is equally important to continue that project, thus creating conditions for future reliable and, at the same time, cheaper supply to customers, as well as our industries with energy sources, which is one of the crucial conditions for enhancing our economies’ competitiveness in the future,” PM Đukanović explained.

The two ministers also discussed the improvement of the transport infrastructure between the two states, namely Foca- Plužine road, as well as the Niksić-Čapljina railway, which would contribute to connecting Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro to regional and European corridors.