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Interview of MINA agency with FM Darmanović: New m...
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Interview of MINA agency with FM Darmanović: New momentum in EU enlargement policy
Published on: Mar 4, 2020 • 8:43 PM Author: PR Service
The European Commission takes into account the competitiveness of other powers in the region and sees the enlargement policy not only as a technical process, but also as a political process, and this year could signify a new momentum in enlargement, Minister of Foreign Affairs Srđan Darmanović pointed out.
In an interview with MINA agency, Darmanović noted that to a certain extent, this was the intention of a new methodology in negotiations with the European Union.
He stressed that a comparative analysis will point to the specific advantages or disadvantages, i.e. whether to keep the old way of negotiating or to adopt a new solution.
Minister Darmanović said that there was a difference in the opening of the chapters by cluster, in the new methodology.
"We have de - facto opened all the chapters, it remains only one, which I expect to be open by the end of this semester," Darmanović highlighted, adding that Montenegro would balance both options and consult partners from the region and Brussels, to provide all countries continue their path towards the EU, in a credible manner.
Asked if North Macedonia and Albania can be expected to get approval for accession negotiations at a meeting in Brussels this month, Darmanović responded that Montenegro believes that the time has come.
According to his words, the invitation was supposed to happen in October, but the lost time is not irreplaceable.
"Now is the opportunity for the Council to make that significant step forward, towards the European perspective of the Western Balkans, i.e. the continuation of the enlargement policy," Darmanović stressed.
He underlined that Montenegro is quite supportive for its neighbors and partners from the region and their aspirations to become EU members.
We believe that this is a future of the entire region, not only of Montenegro, regardless of the fact that we are the farthest away from it," Darmanović said.
He assessed the latest messages of almost all key people of the European Commission (EC), on the need for the Western Balkans to access the Union, which made the new EC recognisable, as encouraging.
"The messages need to be translated into action now and let’s see what their implementation will be," Darmanović said.
He also recalled that on the occasion of his visit to Podgorica, EU Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighborhood Policy Oliver Varhelyi insisted that at least one Western Balkan country, must be invited to join the Union, during his term.
"We believe it can be perceived which country this could be. Probably the one who went the farthest in the negotiations. We will strive to be Montenegro, but we will be pleased if the rest of our friends and neighbors from the region can follow this pace," Minister Darmanović underscored.
He emphasised that after the decision on starting negotiations with the North Macedonia and Albania, it will be known, in which direction the new methodology will move and expects that it will take shape at the Zagreb Summit, in May.
Commenting on the attitude of the international community to the events in Montenegro, following the adoption of the Law on Freedom of Religion, Darmanović stressed that Podgorica is consulting NATO allies and EU partners on the subject.
"They consider that this is an internal issue of Montenegro and there is no need to involve them in a way that would mean any arbitration. Of course, we have well- intentioned advice that things need to be resolved through a dialogue, which is the direction we have chosen," Darmanović said.
He said that not only Montenegro recognised the interference of others in its internal affairs, "but also our NATO allies."
The law-driven propaganda war was primarily coordinated from Moscow, Foreign Minister Darmanović recalled recent statements from the State Department.
"Just one propaganda, as we haven't had the chance to see since the 1990s, was launched against us from Belgrade. This is obvious when flipping through what the media in Serbia is writing. We have certain actions in Republic of Srpska as well," Minister Darmanović specified.
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Ministry of Foreign Affairs
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