Press release: Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic meets Vice President of Council of Europes Parliamentary Assembly Jean-Charles Gardetto

Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic met in Podgorica today with Vice President of the Council of Europes Parliamentary Assembly Jean-Charles Gardetto, as part of Mr. Gardettos official visit to Montenegro. The purpose of his visit is to collect information for a report on Montenegros readiness to become a full member of the Council of Europe now that the country has restored its statehood.

Prime Minister Djukanovic reiterated his gratitude to the Council of Europe for the professional support provided during the referendum on Montenegros state status and expressed the conviction that the presence of the Council of Europes Observation Mission had helped carry out September election in a democratic and fair atmosphere. The Prime Minister stressed that those events had encouraged further strengthening of political stability and creation of a good environment for prompt implementation of the goals set out, both in terms of Montenegros economic development and European and Euro-Atlantic integration. He expressed the expectation that by the end of the year Montenegro would sign a Stabilization and Association Agreement with the European Union, join NATOs Partnership for Peace Program and became member of international financial institutions, the World Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

The Prime Minister also informed his guest that Montenegro was determined to implement further reform of the economic system, public administration and the judiciary, resulting in further adoption of European standards and full membership of the Council of Europe early next year.

Mr. Gardetto stressed that Montenegro had gone through historic changes recently, followed by the current stage of dynamic development. Emphasizing that Montenegro would face new tasks on its European path, he communicated the Council of Europes readiness to continue and strengthen cooperation with the Government and relevant authorities in the next period and expressed confidence that the process would be completed with success.