Press release: Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic meets Norwegian Ambassador in Belgrade Haakon Blankenborg

Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic met in Podgorica today with Ambassador of the Kingdom of Norway in Belgrade Haakon Blankenborg, who is making a working visit to Montenegro.

Ambassador Blankenborg extended congratulations to Montenegro on the restoration of its statehood and, in accordance with the Norwegian Governments decision of June 16 to recognize Montenegro as an independent and sovereign state, expressed the readiness for further development of already strong bilateral relations and cooperation between the two countries. He noted that economy was an area of particular importance for bilateral cooperation and emphasized the interest of Norwegian companies in energy and tourism sectors.

Prime Minister Djukanovic thanked Ambassador Blankenborg for his congratulations and the support and assistance the Government of the Kingdom of Norway had provided during the implementation of programs and projects in various sectors healthcare, education, science and reconstruction of cultural facilities. He noted an upward trend in bilateral relations and confirmed Montenegros interest to cooperate with Norwegian partners on different infrastructure projects, including the sectors of energy and tourism, both through the privatization process and through green-field investment, shipping industry, maritime economy, environmental protection, etc. The Prime Minister recalled that the investment by Norwegian company Telenor in ProMonte was the first major foreign investment in Montenegro.

Ambassador Blankenborg informed the Prime Minister that programs and plans for the ongoing and new projects of support to Montenegro would be continued, in the spirit of friendship, regardless of the said business interests of the Norwegian economy.

The Prime Minister gave assurances that the Government and other institutions would provide every support to Norwegian partners, with a view to strengthening cooperation between the two countries.