Press release: Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic meets delegation of the Council of Europe Monitoring Mission

Today in Podgorica, Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic met with a delegation of the Council of Europe Monitoring Mission, headed by Director of Political Affairs Directorate Marc Scheuer.

During the talks, reference was made of the State Unions dysfunction, political developments in Montenegro, with particular emphasis on cooperation between the Government and relevant bodies of the Council of Europe. It was found that the Council of Europes activities provided a strong incentive to the development of Montenegros social and political life in general, above all, through the harmonization of local legislation with European standards, reform of state and local administration, judiciary, interior ministry, educational system, etc. All of that was said to have helped meet the requirements for the EUs positive feasibility report on the preparedness for the process of stabilization and association with the EU.

The Prime Minister emphasized Montenegros and the Governments unreserved commitment to further reform, aimed at meeting the requirements for European and trans-Atlantic integration, i.e. accession to the EU and NATO, as Montenegros foreign policy priorities.

Director Scheuer reiterated that the Republic had made general progress in social and economic development and affirmed the readiness of CoE to provide all the required assistance in order to fulfill the obligations arising from the membership in that organization. He pointed out that Montenegrin citizens had the sovereign right to decide the issue of Montenegros statehood, and that the Council of Europe was interested for that process to be conducted in line with European standards and in a democratic fashion.

The talks were also attended by Stefano Valenti, Special Representative of the CoE Secretary General for Serbia and Montenegro and Vladimir Ristovski, Head of the CoE Office in Podgorica.