Press release: Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic meets Israeli Ambassador Jaffa Ben-Ari

Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic met in Podgorica today with Israeli Ambassador to the State Union Ms Jaffa Ben-Ari, who is paying an official visit to Montenegro.

The discussion focused on bilateral relations and cooperation, as well as current developments in the two countries.

An upward trend was observed in bilateral cooperation, above all economic, and it was agreed that mutual economic interest to extend such cooperation should be utilized. Tourism and associated industries, including agriculture, were recognized as particularly interesting areas of cooperation. In that respect, it was pointed out that visits by government and business delegations should be exchanged in the near future, in order to increase the awareness of the prospects and opportunities for cooperation.

The Prime Minister acquainted Ms Ben-Ari with the political and economic developments in Montenegro, describing the political situation as stable and macroeconomic developments as very positive, which recently resulted in a significant growth in foreign direct investment, a trend that still prevailed.

The Prime Minister emphasized that the Governments priorities for the next period included further progress towards the European Union and NATO, while specific tasks included the signing of a Stabilization and Association Agreement with the Union by the end of the year and admission to NATOs Partnership for Peace Program. With a view to accelerating the process, Montenegro is determined to restore its statehood and acquire the status of an international legal entity, since a long-standing experience has shown that such a status is necessary in representing ones indigenous interests in international affairs. The Prime Minister said that the statehood restoration process would be carried out in accordance with the most stringent European rules and practices, even though certain recommendations of the European Union were not equitable and could set a dangerous precedent in international relations.

Ambassador Jaffa Ben-Ari stressed that Israel would respect any decision made by the citizens of Montenegro in a democratic procedure and in line with international standards.