Press release: Prime Minister Zeljko Sturanovic meets with Serbian National Assembly Speaker Oliver Dulic

Prime Minister Zeljko Sturanovic met in Podgorica today with Speaker of the Serbian National Assembly Oliver Dulic.

Having welcomed his guest and the fact that this important visit had taken place, the Prime Minister acquainted Mr. Dulic with the current socio-political and economic developments in the Republic, placing particular emphasis on the stable political situation, traditionally harmonious multiethnic and multi-religious relations, upward trend in macroeconomic indicators, ongoing drafting of the new Constitution and the foreign policy priorities aimed at strengthening regional cooperation, adopting high international standards and integrating the country into European and Euro-Atlantic structures.

Mr. Dulic wished the Prime Minister a happy Statehood Day and noted that the friendship and cooperation between Serbia and Montenegro were developing in the right direction, both in political and economic terms.

Mr Dulics visit, as well as the recent visits by Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic and Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic, will help promote friendly relations and cooperation between the two neighboring countries, making the best contribution to the stability of the region and its integration into modern international structures. The need was once again recognized for the two countries to develop as close relations as possible, with an open border policy for the free movement of people, goods, services and capital, placing a particular emphasis on economic cooperation. For many years, Serbia has been Montenegros first and most important foreign economic partner.

Prime Minister Sturanovic expressed hope that economic cooperation would be promoted and intensified in the coming period, boosting investment, institutional and direct cooperation between economic entities and entrepreneurs and that talks on capital projects of mutual interest would be continued, forming the basis for a variety of other projects.

It was agreed that cooperation between the two coutnreis should be intensified and institutionalized by concluding a series of bilateral agreements in different areas, such as: diplomacy, military, tourism, transport, European integration and joint use of IPA funds, finance, agriculture, healthcare, education, scientific and technical cooperation, welfare, culture and arts, cultural heritage, copyright protection, fight against corruption and organized crime, international legal assistance and emergency situations.

It was noted that friendly relations between the two neighboring countries and well-developed cooperation were the best contribution to promoting common values, common development and prosperity goals, stability of the region and its integration into European and Euro-Atlantic structures.