PM Marković at joint session of Montenegrin, Albanian cabinets: This testifies to friendship and ties between our countries and nations

Shkoder, Albania (3 July 2018) -- Joint session of the governments of Montenegro and Albania, which started earlier this morning in Shkoder, confirms the friendship between the two countries and unbreakable ties between the peoples, Prime Minister Duško Marković said at the beginning of the session.

"The fact that this is actually the first session the Government of Montenegro organises with some other country clearly confirms our friendship, the unbreakable ties between our peoples and the determination to continue to foster good neighbourly relations. Since last year, we are allies within NATO, which is another quality of our relations," said Prime Minister Marković.

The Montenegrin Prime Minister said in his introductory remarks that the priority of both Montenegro and Albania is membership in the European Union and congratulated Albania on the EU's decision to start the negotiations.

"I would like to confirm the readiness of Montenegro to support the accomplishment of common integration goals and share its experience. For six years, as far as we are in the process of membership negotiations, Montenegro has opened 31 negotiating chapters, while the two have been temporarily closed. It is statistics, but behind that which there is a lot of work done and a lot of work needs to be done. We have strengthened and improved our capacities, which is one of the greatest values of this process, and would have long-term positive effects," Prime Minister Marković pointed out at the joint sessions of the two governments.

Prime Minister Marković expressed Montenegro’s readiness to closer cooperate with Albania, reiterating that Montenegro is committed to regional cooperation.

"I would like to highlight the cooperation among the countries of the region within the Berlin Process. We are pleased that this initiative, launched by Germany in order to develop the region and improve the progress of the Western Balkan countries towards membership in the European Union, remains largely focused on concrete assistance to our countries in implementing key projects in transport and energy, which will contribute to the individual and the overall development of the region. We are obliged to use this development opportunity, embedded in the wider European context, and permanently position our countries on the main European infrastructure map. Our citizens deserve better than the Balkan shortcuts and dead ends we need to leave behind. In addition to cooperation within regional projects, it is particularly important to develop cooperation at the level of the two countries. Montenegro and Albania have excellent relations and numerous opportunities for their further strengthening. Continuous and high-quality communication between the authorities of the two countries resulted in today's signing of several agreements, as well as agreements on intensifying cooperation where necessary and useful, namely in the fight against cross-border crime and mass migration, use of EU funds for the modernisation of border crossings, administration, education, science, tourism," said Prime Minister of Montenegro Duško Marković.

The Prime Minister stressed that Montenegro and Albania have great potential for further development of mutual relations, which will be especially contributed by the agreements that are going to be signed in Shkoder.

Prime Minister Duško Marković highlighted in particular the importance of minorities for the mutual cooperation between Montenegro and Albania.

"I would like to underline the wealth that exists between our countries - our peoples living in one and the other country, as minorities, and in fact I would say, as citizens - Albanians in Montenegro and Montenegrins in Albania - which are one of the most important links between the two countries. Albanians in Montenegro are citizens who contribute to the progress of the country, actively participate in achieving strategic priorities, and are a factor of stability and building of a better future for the country. Just as Montenegrins in Albania are citizens who contribute to its progress and social and political life by preserving their identity and tradition. Certainly, we can always strive for the better and the efforts of our governments should continue to be directed towards achieving the guaranteed rights of minorities in line with international standards," Prime Minister Duško Marković concluded.

PUBLIC RELATIONS SERVICE WITH THE PUBLIC GOVERNMENT OF MONTENEGRO