Deputy Prime Minister Lukšić hosts Greek Foreign Minister Nikolaos Kotzias

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Podgorica, Montenegro (26 June 2015) – Montenegro’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Igor Lukšić hosted Greek Foreign Minister Nikolaos Kotzias, who is paying an official visit to Montenegro.

The two ministers also signed a science and education cooperation agreement and held a press conference in Podgorica earlier today.

Montenegro and Greece have a long history of strong ties, Minister Kotzias said in Podgorica.

"We share common values and visions. This visit is a contribution to building better relations in the Balkans, and also helps Montenegro's accession into Euro-Atlantic structures," Minister Kotzias underscored.

He added that cooperation between the two countries need to be expanded to other areas, such as education, technology, research, trade, military cooperation, as well as cooperation between the EU and Balkan’s institutions.

"Montenegro and Greece share a common vision of peace, security and stability in the Balkan region, Mediterranean and throughout Europe. We know that when we find ourselves in difficulty, it is necessary to cooperate," the Greek head of diplomacy concluded.

Montenegro is interested in establishing cooperation with Greece when it comes to the migration issue, even though Greece is not formally a member of the MARRI initiative dealing with the issues of migration and asylum, Montenegro’s Foreign Minister Lukšić noted following meeting with his Greek counterpart. 

He reiterated that Greece was the very first point of contact between Montenegro and NATO, as well as the strongest advocate of adopting the EU Strategy for the Adriatic-Ionian Region. It has also defined space for regional cooperation and implementation of a number of projects that are significant for economic growth of the region, Minister Lukšic stated.

Greece's made extensive efforts to help countries of the region come closer to EU membership during its presidency of the EU in 2003, when the Thessaloniki Agenda for the Western Balkans was also adopted, DPM Lukšić stated. 

According to Mr Lukšić, the two countries share common interest in establishing cooperation in the Mediterranean and Montenegro wishes to establish additional mechanisms for cooperation in that area, Montenegro's Deputy Prime Ministert and Foreign Minister Lukšić stressed.