Press release: Prime Minister Zeljko Sturanovic meets Danish Foreign Minister Per Stig Moeller

Montenegrin Prime Minister Zeljko Sturanovic met in Podgorica today with Danish Foreign Minister Per Stig Moeller, who is making an official visit to Montenegro.

Having extended a warm welcome to Mr Moeller, the Prime Minister thanked the Danish Government for prompt recognition of Montenegros independence and establishment of diplomatic relations at ambassadorial level. He also expressed his personal thanks to Foreign Minister Moeller, who was a chairman of the United Nations Security Council at the time of Montenegros accession to that international organization.

The Prime Minister informed his guest of the current political and economic situation in the Republic, describing the political circumstances as very stable and economic developments as dynamic and positive. He acquainted Foreign Minister Moeller with the Governments priorities in terms of further strengthening political and macroeconomic stability, continuing comprehensive reforms and boosting economic growth and development, aimed at increasing the populations standard of living. As regards foreign affairs, the Governments efforts are focused on accelerating European and Euro-Atlantic integration, with an emphasis on a prompt signing of a Stabilization and Association Agreement with the European Union and accession to the Council of Europe. The Prime Minister informed his guest of the good prospects of acquiring full membership of the World Trade Organization in the near future.

Foreign Minister Moeller noted that Denmark, as a member of the European Union and NATO, supported the integration of Montenegro and other countries of the region into European and Euro-Atlantic structures and was ready to make its contribution in that respect. He observed that overall developments in Montenegro were moving in the right direction, which was manifested by its prompt admission, after independence, into the United Nations, OSCE, international monetary and financial institutions and other specialized UN agencies.

With reference to bilateral relations and cooperation, it was agreed that the two countries maintained a continued political dialogue, which formed a sound basis for strengthening different forms of cooperation, predominantly economic. The Danish side recognized interest in concrete cooperation with Montenegros economic entities, particularly in the area of agriculture and tourism.

Both sides expressed hope that the all-round cooperation in the next period would be reinforced, which should be encouraged by this visit.