Press release: Prime Minister Zeljko Sturanovic meets with non-resident Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to Montenegro Hasan Servet Oktem

Prime Minister Zeljko Sturanovic today met with non-resident Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to Montenegro Hasan Servet Oktem.

Ambassador Oktem informed the Prime Minister of the decision of the Republic of Turkey to open its embassy in Montenegro and appoint a resident ambassador in the first half of 2008. He also expressed satisfaction with excellent cooperation with the Montenegrin Foreign Ministry and municipal authorities in Podgorica when it came to finding a permanent solution for the future Turkish Embassy in Podgorica. Ambassador Oktem voiced Turkeys readiness to resolve the question of location of the two countries future embassies by exchanging adequate plots of land in Podgorica and Ankara or in some other way acceptable to both parties.

Having welcomed Turkeys intent to open its embassy in Podgorica, Prime Minister Sturanovic emphasized that one of Montenegro foreign policy priorities was the development of good relations not only within the region, but also with other countries with whom Montenegro had had a tradition of good relations, which included Turkey. By the same token, he expressed interest in opening a Montenegrin Embassy in Ankara, in accordance with a pre-defined schedule of opening Montenegros diplomatic and consular missions.

The two parties expressed their satisfaction with the opening of the Coordination Office of the Turkish International Development and Cooperation Agency (TIKA) in Podgorica, through which Turkey intends to provide technical support to Montenegros development, pursuing a large number of programs and projects in different fields. Emphasis was placed on the success of projects consolidating Montenegros educational and health system, implemented through this Office.

Particular interest was expressed in further reinforcement of bilateral relations in general, with a special emphasis on economic cooperation. In this regard, a need was identified for an increased presence of Turkish partners in Montenegro and the promotion of visible trade between the two countries. Both parties expressed satisfaction with the success of negotiations and the forthcoming signing of a series of bilateral agreements, which included the Free Trade Agreement and the Cooperation Protocol between the Foreign Ministries of Turkey and Montenegro comprising the Cooperation Agreement between Diplomatic Academies. Development of the formal legal framework will give a new incentive to strengthen all-round cooperation of common interest.

During the talks, consideration was also given to other issues of concrete cooperation in the field of defense and tourism, as well as to the possibility of introducing direct flights between Podgorica and Istanbul or Ankara.