Icelandic PM Johannsson: It is an honour to be first in recognising Montenegro

Meeting between Montenegrin and Icelandic Prime Ministers

Reykjavik, Iceland (29 June 2016) – Prime Minister Milo Đukanović met today in Reykjavik with Icelandic Prime Minister Sigurdur Ingi Johannsson.

The focus of the talks were political and economic issues between the two countries, European and Euro-Atlantic integration and experiences in these processes, as well as potential modalities for strengthening and development of bilateral cooperation between Montenegro and Iceland.

Prime Minister Đukanović, stating that this is the first bilateral visit to Reykjavik at this level, thanked for the support to Montenegro forasmuch as Iceland was the first country that recognised Montenegro's independence and ten years later, on the same day, it ratified Montenegro's Accession Protocol to NATO, which further strengthened friendship toward Iceland and Icelanders.

Speaking about Montenegro's development since the restoration of independence, Prime Minister Đukanović underlined that Montenegro did not waste time and it has chosen the path of economic reforms and Euro-Atlantic integration. The Prime Minister expressed satisfaction with the forthcoming membership in the Alliance and spoke about reasons for selection of European strategic objective.

"Our path to the EU is the way out of backwardness and instability, and it is important that we are on that way, where we learn a lot. In doing so, we objectively see advantages and disadvantages of the EU. We are learning to do everything that is expected of us." PM Đukanović said.

The Prime Minister also spoke of the need to intensify bilateral cooperation and relations, adding that these two small countries face similar issues and that tourism is a priority development branch in both countries.

"Icelandic experience in development of fishery and agro-industry, and aluminum and energy industry is precious to us," PM Đukanović noted and underlined that Iceland’s experience as a founding country of NATO is very important, in the context of Montenegro's positioning in NATO and meeting the obligations of full membership that will follow.

Meeting between Montenegrin PM and Chair of Icelandic Foreign Affairs Committee

Icelandic Prime Minister Sigurdur Ingi Johannsson expressed his satisfaction with the visit of Montenegrin Prime Minister.

"We are honored that Iceland was the first country to recognise Montenegro's independence ten years ago and what we will sit together at NATO Summit in Warsaw," Johannsson said and welcomed the impressive progress that Montenegro achieved in the first ten years since the restoration of independence.

Prime Minister Johannsson also expressed full readiness for bilateral cooperation regarding EU integration, and in the areas of Iceland's know-how, such as agriculture, fishery, tourism and renewable energy.

"I agree that small countries can show more flexibility in the search for answers to the new challenges. This confirms the progress Montenegro has made in the ten years of its existence, which is really respectable," Icelandic Prime Minister stated.

PM Đukanović invited invited his Icelandic counterpart to visit Montenegro whenever he can, and congratulated Iceland's success in the UEFA European Championship.

Prime Minister Đukanović also spoke in the Parliament with the Chair and members of the Icelandic Foreign Affairs Committee and thanked the Parliament and MPs for support to Montenegro, noting that June 8th of 2006 and 2016 would remain permanently inscribed in the history of relations between the two countries.

During his stay in Reykjavik, PM Đukanović gave a lecture at the University of Iceland on "Montenegrin membership in NATO and stability of the Western Balkans", organised by the Institute of International Relations.