PM Marković: Results of elections are best answer to political destruction, boycott and parasitism in Montenegro

Budapest, Hungary (27 November 2017) -- Sixth Central Eastern European Countries and China Summit has been successfully brought to an end, and the cooperation among the countries has already yielded significant results, Prime Minister of Montenegro Duško Marković told the press in Budapest earlier today.

"Sixth Summit within the 16+1 Mechanism, involving China and 16 countries of Central and Eastern Europe, has been successfully brought to an end. We noted that the cooperation within this Mechanism has already yielded significant results for all the participating countries, that it encouraged development of infrastructure and led to the growth of the economy. It is not only the cooperation that takes place between the CEEC countries  and China, but also among the coutries themselves. Montenegro has already derived much benefits from this cooperation," said the Prime Minister.

Speaking about concrete projects, the Prime Minister said that the most important benefit for Montenegro is the construction of the Bar-Boljare motorway project, whose implementation contributed to a significant growth of the economy - namely 4.2 percent in the first half of this year. The Prime Minister said that new models of cooperation are to be defined and discussed at meetings with the Prime Minister of China and the CRBC later on today.

"We have opted for a private-public partnership model. Furthermore, cooperation agreement in the field of planting and production of the Chinese medicinal herbs in Montenegro has already been signed. And of course, in the field of medicine. Therefore, we have concrete projects, concrete results and we believe that we will continue this trend in the future, and that at the next Summit in Bulgaria we will have the opportunity to note the new progress," the Prime Minister told the press.

Commenting yesterday's local elections, Prime Minister Marković stressed that the Democratic Party of Socialists achieved good results in all 4 municipalities.

"Firstly, I would like to welcome the results of the elections. They have shown that the European and democratic perspective of Montenegro is unquestioned, despite the fact that we faced serious challenges during the election campaign and that our political oponents were attempting to bring this key and strategic commitment of Montenegro into question," PM Marković underlined.

Responding to a reporter's question about the making the best use of the Port of Bar in terms of connecting China with Europe, the Prime Minister stressed that within this Mechanism, besides the Port of Bar, infrastructure and energy sector are also of high significance. He reiterated that within the Berlin process, Montenegro has also developed its opportunities to start development and investment in these sectors, noting that these two processes are not opposing, but complementary platforms that stimulate development, economy, enable third party involvement and have political and security benefits as well.

"Therefore, tourism, energy, agriculture and infrastructure are the sectors that will continue to develop within this Mechanism," said Prime Minister Marković.

When asked by a journalist whether the conditions for the construction of the second section of the Bar-Boljara motorway will be similar to those for the first section, PM Marković said that another model of a private-public partnership that would not involve state funding has been under consideration.

"I believe that we will find the way and succeed in defining with our Chinese partners or some other partners a model that would involve the continuation of works on the next section of the motorway once the first priority section is completed," the Prime Minister explained.

Commenting on the arrangements of other countries from the region with China, Prime Minister Marković underlined that the 16 + 1 Mechanism does not only mean the cooperation of these 16 countries with China, but also among the countries themselves.

"Serbia has signed today an agreement on the modernisation of the Belgrade-Budapest railway, and as you know, they are working on modernising the railway to Montenegro, and Montenegro is doing the same thing with the Chinese partners. We believe that through this arrangement we will open up the railway corridor from the Port of Bar to Budapest. The same situation is with the motorway. Today, Serbia has signed an agreement on the creation of presumptions for the continuation of works on the motorway towards the border with Montenegro. It will therefore be a single corridor. These are great opportunities and chances for our economy and a better quality of life for our citizens," the Prime Minister concluded.

PUBLIC RELATIONS SERVICE OF THE GOVERNMENT OF MONTENEGRO