Top officials' congratulations to Prime Minister Duško Marković

Podgorica, Montenegro (9 December 2016) -- Prime ministers of Hungary, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, as well as representatives the World Bank and EBRD, congratulated Prime Minister Duško Marković on assuming the office.

Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orban said in his congratulatory message that political, economic and cultural relations between the two countries developed in a dynamic manner and that, as a result, Hungary and Montenegro have established a stable partnership based on shared values and goals. He is especially pleased that Montenegro will soon be welcomed as a full member of NATO, emphasising Hungary's contribution in that regard, as its Embassy in Podgorica has been engaged as NATO Contact Point Embassy.

In his congratulatory message addressed to the Prime Minister of Montenegro, his Slovak counterpart Robert Fico welcomed Montenegro’s progress in European and Euro-Atlantic integration.

He points out that Prime Minister Markovič is assuming the office at the moment which is crucial for Montenegro – the ratification of the Accession Protocol is underway and the country is entering a more demanding phase of the accession negotiations with the EU. He is convinced that PM Marković has personal and professional capacity and necessary political sense of contribution to Montenegro’s further progress in meeting its strategic objectives. During and after Slovakia’s presidency of the Council of the European Union, Montenegro can count on the country's full support, Prime Minister Fico states.

Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov also congratulated his Montenegrin counterpart on the establishment of the 41st Cabinet of Montenegro, voicing satisfaction with friendly relations between the two countries and their increasingly progressive advancement. Euro-Atlantic progress is not only Montenegro's success, but also a powerful contribution to security and stability in the Western Balkans, he underscores, adding that Bulgaria also supports Montenegro's strong progress in its EU bid.

In his congratulatory message, Prime Minister of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea Pak Bong Ju wished Prime Minister Duško Marković much success in further work on the overall progress of Montenegro.

Representatives of international financial institutions, namely the World Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, also congratulated Duško Marković on assuming the office of the prime minister of Montenegro.

Ellen Goldstein, World Bank’s Country Director for Southeast Europe and Central Asia, notes that she is glad that the priorities PM Marković has mentioned in his inaugural speech are identical to those identified in the strategy of the World Bank in Montenegro, which is a good basis for productive cooperation in order to achieve dynamic, sustainable and inclusive economic growth of the country. She looks forward to experiencing further cooperation in joint initiatives aimed at improving macroeconomic and financial components, as well as boosting business environment and employment.

Suma Chakrabarti, President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, underlines that he looks forward to joint work towards strengthening cooperation between the EBRD and Montenegro. EBRD is willing to continue to support Mntenegro on its path of comprehensive economic reform, regional development and integration, he points out.

OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER