The speech of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Igor Luksic, at the reception in the honour of Ten years of German-Montenegrin Development Cooperation

Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Friends,

When we make a retrospective of one cooperation and friendship, it is always appropriate to observe achieved results.

As I had the opportunity to observe presentations on my way here, I felt great satisfaction with the knowledge, experience, development projects which German Government brought to Montenegro.

When someone gives you money, then it becomes your Patron, and when it gives you a part of themselves and their knowledge, then they are your friend.

For small countries such as Montenegro, existing the transition, it represents the gift of friendly country that we will remember and return by accelerated learning in peak political and economic path enabling us to learn and help others. And it is the cycle that lasts, providing the opportunity to some new countries, to what we are striving for and where I envisage the most recent future of Montenegro.

On this road we will face with challenges, concerns, learning and we will need help of all those who recognize Montenegro as a modern, independent, and above all friendly country that is willing to become both good neighbor and example to the EU family.

Tonight I will neither mention figures and nor review projects individually, it seems to me that it would be redundant and that it is the best that this exhibition of completed projects speak for itself conveying common message.

The work, good will and positive energy around a single goal always has multiple benefits through knowledge, development and joy for the common job.

Hence, I would like to use this opportunity to thank everyone, whether they are from Montenegro, Germany, or any other party, for helping Montenegro to bridge the gap between north and south, provide and develop required infrastructure, enrich its tourist and cultural offer, improve the financial framework and all else.

Moreover, the continuation of initiatives and projects with German partners, as well as with all other partners, is something that will largely determine the further development of our country.

Along the way I expect that, together, and for the benefit of our citizens, we will find new sources and motives for big jobs that are ahead of us, primarily for the most distant and least developed regions of Montenegro, aimed at further improvement of our capacities and institutions for new employment.

At the end, I would like to express my appreciation to his Excellency, the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Montenegro, Mr. Peter Plate, and representatives of the German Government who have contributed to the establishment of cooperation between the two Governments and the realization of crucial projects for Montenegro.

Thank your for attention!

PhD., Igor Lukšić, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister