Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic meets with the Council of Europe Secretary General Walter Schwimmer

Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic met today in Podgorica with the Council of Europe Secretary General Walter Schwimmer.

The two officials expressed satisfaction with the cooperation between Montenegro and the Council of Europe and found that todays top-level visit reflected the readiness to promote the partnership.

Prime Minister Djukanovic thanked Mr. Schiwimmer for the continual support Montenegro received from the Council of Europe, as well as for his personal contribution to Serbia-Montenegros admission to that important association of democratic nations of Europe. In that context, Prime Minister Djukanovic acquainted Mr. Schwimmer with the measures taken by Montenegro with a view to harmonizing the local system with European standards, particularly as regards judiciary, state administration, media, local governance and police. He emphasized Montenegros dedication in meeting all obligations arising from the membership of the Council of Europe, which he said was the first step towards the integration with the European Union.

Secretary General Schwimmer confirmed the readiness of the CoE to extend the cooperation and support provided in reform and integration processes, commending the results and the efforts invested by the Government in that respect. Mr. Schwimmer said that coordinated activities against human trafficking represented an example of fruitful cooperation, stressing that human trafficking was a pan-European problem, affecting even the oldest members of the Council of Europe.

Mr. Schwimmer explained that peace and stability in the Western Balkans was an issue of common interest and added that recent events in Kosovo indicated that many things were yet to be done to that end. According to him, Montenegro is a good example of multiethnic and multireligious harmony, which proves that such a thing is possible.

In addition, emphasizing the importance of removing the obstacles to the operation of the state unions institutions, Secretary General Schwimmer commended Montenegros efforts in that respect.