Press release: Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic meets German Ambassador Andreas Zobel

Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic met today in Podgorica with Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to the State Union Andreas Zobel, who is making an official visit to Montenegro, marking the Day of German Unity.

During the meeting, reference was made to bilateral relations and cooperation, current situation in Montenegro, relations in the state union and regional developments in the Western Balkans.

It was agreed that bilateral relations and cooperation followed an upward trend, mirrored in increasingly intensive contracts both at the political level and at the level of government departments and other institutions in various fields, above all economic.

Having paid compliments to the Ambassador, Prime Minister Djukanovic stressed that, as far as Montenegros internal policy is concerned, the Government of Montenegro was focused on continuing the comprehensive reform process and the strengthening of macroeconomic stability. With regard to foreign policy, he explained that particular attention was paid to the efforts at European and Euro-Atlantic integration, to which the mandate to open negotiations on a Stabilization and Association Agreement, recently approved by the European Unions Council of Ministers, was a powerful incentive.

The Prime Minister informed Ambassador Zobel that the Montenegrin citizens would decide their political future in the first half of next year, based on the right enshrined in the Belgrade Agreement and the Constitutional Charter. It was agreed that the process should be based on international standards and implemented though a transparent procedure with adequate role of interested international organizations and institutions, observing regional safety.

Prime Minister Djukanovic expressed gratitude for the equipment grants the German Government provided to relevant services of the Interior Ministry. It was noted that, considering the overall volume of donations, Montenegro was first on the list of beneficiaries of German aid per capita.

Both officials expressed interest in continuing the dialogue, and the opportunity for that will soon present itself in the context of talks with the accredited representatives of the EU member states.