DPM Lukšić and Romania’s Foreign Minister Corlatean launch new Romanian Embassy premises in Podgorica

Podgorica, Montenegro (18 July 2014) -- Earlier today in Podgorica, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Igor Lukšić and his Romanian counterpart, Foreign Minister Titus Corlatean, officially launched the new premises of the Romanian Embassy to Montenegro.

Mr Corlatean said he was very pleased to inaugurate the new Embassy of Romania in Podgorica. He commended the two countries’ excellent and very friendly bilateral relations, noting the work of the Embassy will further contribute to this end. He underlined that Romania strongly supports Montenegro’s EU and NATO ambitions. He added that in “all the encounters with representatives of the two institutions and of the member-states Romania has been very supportive of Montenegro and has been working towards advancing these strategic goals of Montenegro.”

He noted the importance of enhancing political contacts between the two countries, extending bilateral trade, and improving cooperation in the area of culture. For this reason, as he said, “Romania is very interested in launching the new Embassy today.” He also voiced Romania's appreciation that two months ago Mr Lukšić has launched the Embassy of Montenegro in Bucharest, which, according to him, is “extremely important for improving the two countries' cooperation.”

Mr Lukšić welcomed the fact that the new premises of the Romanian embassy were being opened in Podgorica today. He noted the fact that Mr Corlatean was “one of the strongest voices in the European and Euro-Atlantic communities favouring Montenegro’s ambition to meet our strategic goals of eventually becoming a member state of both the EU and NATO.”

Mr Lukšić commended the bilateral cooperation between the two countries, noting in particular economic cooperation as well as cooperation in the areas education, culture, science, and health. He welcomed the fact that “the partnership has been developing over the years and has been incredibly intensifying over the past year or so,” which, as he noted “shows Romania’s commitment not just to Montenegro but to the whole region” with the view to transferring knowledge and support. Mr Lukšić underlined that in Montenegro we believe our future is inside a united Europe, and Montenegro’s goal is also to be a member of the Euro-Atlantic family.

Deputy Prime Minister Lukšić noted Montenegro’s deep sympathies over the last year’s tragic incident in Montenegro where several Romanian citizens lost their lives and reiterated the importance of cherishing the closeness and friendship of the two countries. He concluded by saying that the two embassies – in Bucharest and Podgorica – are very important for maintaining contacts and cooperation.