Press release: Prime Minister Zeljko Sturanovic meets Bulgarian Deputy Foreign Minister Lyubomir Kyuchukov

Prime Minister Zeljko Sturanovic received a visit from Deputy Foreign Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria Lyubomir Kyuchukov today. The occasion for the visit was the opening of Bulgarias embassy in Montenegro and the marking of one hundred and fifty years of diplomatic relations between Montenegro and Bulgaria.

Mr Kyuchukov conveyed his governments congratulations for the restoration of Montenegros statehood and the ruling coalitions success in Septembers parliamentary and local elections. He, also, expressed satisfaction with the decision of the NATO Summit in Riga to invite Montenegro to joint the Partnership of Peace Program.

Thanking Mr Kyuchukov for the congratulations, the Prime Minister emphasized the importance of opening the Bulgarian Embassy in Podgorica for further development of, already good, relations and cooperation between the two countries. In that respect, he noted that a continued high- and top-level political dialogue was a good basis for further reinforcement of difference forms of bilateral cooperation and realization of common goals on the path to European and transatlantic integration.

In addition, Prime Minister Sturanovic informed Mr Kyuchukov of the Governments priorities for the coming period, which, at the foreign policy level, focused on accelerating the progress towards European and Euro-Atlantic structures and, at the internal level, on strengthening macroeconomic stability, attracting foreign investment, creating new jobs and increasing the standard of living of the population.

Mr Kyuchukov expressed Bulgarias readiness to share positive experiences and expertise acquired during the process of association with the EU, which it would join in early 2007, and NATO, of which it was already a full member. Such readiness is motivated by Bulgarias desire to see Montenegro and the whole region integrated in modern European and Euro-Atlantic structures.

The Prime Minister expressed the readiness of the government and other relevant bodies in the Republic to provide the Embassy with every support in its regular activities and efforts towards further development of relations and cooperation between the two countries.