Press release: Djukanovic meets Georgiy Sergeyevich Poltavchenko

Montenegrin Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic met today in Podgorica with Georgiy Sergeyevich Poltavchenko, Presidential Representative in the Russian Central Federal District, head of the Districts delegation making an official visit to our Republic at the Prime Ministers invitation.

Both parties expressed their satisfaction with the development of traditional friendship, observing there were objective possibilities to strengthen the cooperation, particularly in the domain of infrastructure, power industry, transport, tourism and banking, as well as in education, science and culture. It was noted that the Prime Ministers visit to Russia last year, his talks with President Putin and other senior officials of the Russian Federation had given a strong impetus to the cooperation.

Prime Minister Djukanovic acquainted Mr. Poltavchenko with the present political and economic situation in Montenegro, results of social and economic reforms and institutional and economic development in accordance with international standards. He emphasized that Montenegros strategic goals included integration into modern European and transatlantic structures, development of friendship with traditional partners, the Russian Federation being among the most prominent ones. The Prime Minister further informed his guest about relations within the State Union and Montenegros proposals regarding the redefinition of those relations.

Both sides expressed readiness to strengthen the political, economic, scientific, cultural, educational and other bonds and cooperation. Concrete initiatives by Russian partners concerning investment cooperation and participation in Montenegros privatization process were commended, as well as the activities local enterprises had undertaken in promoting the tourist industry on the large market of the Russian Federation. In that context, the Montenegrin Prime Ministers attendance at the business forum entitled: Montenegro and Cooperation Prospects which took place in December last year, featuring government and business representatives and the signing of cooperation agreements between the Government of Montenegro and the Moscow Central Administrative District, represented important steps in realizing the projected goals.

Similar or identical views were voiced with regard to regional developments and a number of international issues, which is a precondition for the development of cooperation at a wider international level.

The Prime Minister recognized the efforts Russia invested and the results it achieved in the field of social reform and economic stabilization, as well as with regard to its constructive role in the contemporary system of international relations.

Mr. Poltavchenko stressed that the Russian Federation had taken a keen interest in developments within the Western Balkans and the Southeast Europe, where it had historic interests and traditional friends. He reiterated that Russia had intention to help the region develop in peace and stability, placing its future in the hands of its people, i.e. citizens whose democratic will had to be respected.

It was mutually agreed that this visit would be a new stimulus to bilateral relations between Montenegro and Russia, since the readiness to improve that cooperation in many areas of mutual interest was once again expressed.