Ministers Nuhodžić, Orepić: Montenegro and Croatia are partners in fighting organised crime

Podgorica, Montenegro (17 March 2017) – Minister of the Interior Mevludin Nuhodžić met today with his Croatian counterpart Vlaho Orepić, who was paying his first official visit to Montenegro.

Minister Nuhodžić expressed his gratitude to the Croatian Government for the strong support toward Montenegro's Euro-Atlantic integration and satisfaction with quality police cooperation of partner agencies. He particularly praised the joint action in the field of detection, prevention and suppression of international drug trafficking. Minister Nuhodžić reiterated the commitment of Montenegrin Ministry of the Interior to continue to contribute to safer and more secure environment of the Western Balkans.

Minister Orepić said that Montenegro made remarkable progress regarding implementation of comprehensive reforms and strengthening the rule of law. In this regard, he confirmed Croatia's willingness to continue its full support to Montenegro in achieving strategic foreign policy priorities – membership in the EU and NATO. Minister Orepić stressed that cooperation between criminal and border police is a key prerequisite for ensuring a common European area of freedom, justice and security.

The two officials emphasised the importance of project related to exchange of police officers between Montenegro and Croatia during the summer tourist season. They concluded that there is space for further intensification of police cooperation, in order to find common responses to global security threats, such as migration, organised crime and terrorism. Highlighting the strong commitment to the preservation of good neighbourly relations, the two officials expressed the expectation that the current cooperation between the two friendly countries will be continued in the future.

Ministry of the Interior