PACE co-rapporteurs praise Montenegro's efforts and pace of progress in implementing strategic foreign policy objectives

Podgorica, Montenegro (19 November 2015) – Earlier today, Prime Minister Milo Đukanović hosted Co-rapporteurs of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe for Montenegro, Terry Leiden and Ionut-Marian Stroe.

The PACE co-rapporteurs commended the Government's efforts towards implementing Montenegro’s strategic foreign policy objectives, as well as the pace of the reform process. In that regard, they particularly praised the Government’s determination to endorse the Council of Europe’s recommendations and principles, which had been confirmed by the Committee of Ministers’ decision to eliminate the monitoring programmes.

Prime Minister Đukanović thanked the Council of Europe for the valuable support in promoting the rule of law, developing democracy and protecting human rights, which provide a basis of the country’s European and Euro-Atlantic aspirations. Furthermore, he reiterated the full commitment of the Government to endorsing the CoE recommendations, particularly those related to judicial independence, fight against corruption, restored trust in the electoral system and freedom of the media.

The PACE co-rapporteurs for Montenegro also emphasised the positive role of Montenegro in strengthening regional stability, hopeful that an expected NATO invitation will further reinforce Montenegro's position of a reliable partner in the Western Balkans.