Press release: Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic meets British Ambassador to Serbia and Montenegro David Gowan

Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic met today in Podgorica with British Ambassador to Serbia and Montenegro David Gowan, who is making his regular working visit to our Republic. During the talks, reference was made to the present and future bilateral relations and cooperation, relations within the State Union and developments in the Western Balkans.

It was found that bilateral relations and cooperation between the two countries were being developed in a satisfactory manner and that there was a notable interest in different aspects of further cooperation. Particular emphasis was placed on the fruitful cooperation in the field of judiciary, security and customs affairs and British assistance in institutional development in line with contemporary standards. By way of promoting such relations, the Ambassador announced several initiatives in the following period, including the furtherance of oil and gas exploration on the Montenegrin coast, which is being implemented by British company Ramco and its partners, the sponsorship of the event entitled British Days in Ulcinj and an international conference on the issues of common interest for the countries of the region.

Prime Minister Djukanovic acquainted his guest with the political and economic situation in Montenegro, relations within the State Union, problems in its operation and suggestions regarding future relations between the member states. The Prime Minister stressed that Montenegro was interested in accelerating the process of European and Euro-Atlantic integration. The main objective in the following period is successful completion of the feasibility study for the initiation of the process of stabilization and association with the European Union and the commencement of that process. It was emphasized that, in the integration process, Montenegro should no longer suffer the consequences of the lack of cooperation with the Hague Tribunal on the part of the other member state.

The two parties agreed that this visit would serve as an incentive to better understanding and development of cooperation in the fields of common interest.