Press release: Prime Minister Djukanovic meets newly appointed German Ambassador to Serbia and Montenegro Andreas Zobel

Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic met today in Podgorica with newly appointed German Ambassador to State Union Andreas Zobel on his official visit to Montenegro.

During the talks, the two officials expressed their satisfaction with the development of bilateral relations and cooperation, stimulated by intensive top-level dialogue and last years meetings between government and business representatives. The Prime Minister thanked the Federal Republic of Germany for the support to the development of a multiethnic and multi-religious society, founded on the principles of democracy and market economy.

Acquainting the Ambassador with the current situation in the Republic, reform processes and the level of macroeconomic stability, the Prime Minister pointed out that development of road, railway and airline infrastructure, waste water disposal and power supply were critical for bilateral cooperation and utilization of Montenegros tourist and general development capacity. In that context, he referred to the part of the Adriatic-Ionian Highway passing though Montenegro and the motor road from the Montenegrin coast to Serbia for which potential investors should be sought. The Prime Minster also stressed the importance of supporting small and medium-sized enterprises, view a view to boosting the rate and efficiency of employment.

The Ambassador gave credit to the Montenegrin Government for the undertaken reform processes, emphasizing that the substantial results achieved in bilateral cooperation so far would be furthered, which is being confirmed by the increasingly keen interest of German entrepreneurs for cooperation with their Montenegrin partners.

Referring to relations within the State Union, Prime Minister Djukanovic observed that Montenegros latest proposal for rearrangement would nor jeopardize direct priorities in European and transatlantic integration, including a positive feasibility study on a Stabilization and Association Agreement with the European Union and membership in NATOs Partnership for Peace Program. By the same token, the Ambassador explained that Montenegro, i.e. its citizens have the undisputable right to choose their future, following democratic procedures.

Wishing the Ambassador every success in his future work, the Prime Minister stressed that the Government and its bodies were ready to provide all the support needed to help promote cooperation between the two countries.