Radulović: Our mission is EU membership, credible alliance in NATO and improvement of bilateral cooperation with countries of region

The goals of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are EU membership, a credible NATO alliance, intensifying and improving bilateral cooperation with the countries of the region, strengthening the mechanisms of economic diplomacy and professionalization of the diplomatic service.

In addition to intensifying bilateral ties with neighbours, allies and partners, intensive contacts have been established with representatives of European institutions, clearly and unequivocally confirming full support for Montenegro's EU membership, said Minister of Foreign Affairs Đorđe Radulović within the Government's video campaign "Potpisujem" (I sign) on the first 100 days of work.

"We are proud to point out the fact that the first foreign visits were made to Berlin and Budapest. It is a clear message that we are ready to intensify our activities in the field of foreign policy and continue towards the West, where we believe we belong," said Radulović.

He said that he considers an online meeting between Prime Minister Zdravko Krivokapić and German Chancellor Angela Merkel "an extraordinary success of our diplomacy".

"We visited Hungary and Germany. Ministers of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia and Slovakia visited Montenegro. We held meetings with almost all ambassadors of the countries with diplomatic missions in Montenegro," said Radulović.

One of the burning issues in the world, including in our country, is vaccination against coronavirus. The Minister pointed to daily communication not only with European partners, but with all countries in order to continuously provide vaccines.

Radulović also noted that the alliance in NATO was strengthened in the time of the coronavirus, whereas the Alliance demonstrated solidarity and unity in the midst of the crisis.

"NATO donated 20 ventialtors to Montenegro, as well as consumables for mechanical ventilation. In cooperation with the Ministry of Health, it was agreed that NATO would pay EUR 400,000 in aid for the purchase of magnetic resonance and X-rays for the General Hospital in Berane. The total value of the aid is around EUR 700,000," said Radulović.

According to the current state, over 50 percent of the heads of diplomatic and consular missions were politically appointed, although the Law on Foreign Affairs clearly states that non-career diplomats can make up up to 30 percent of the diplomatic network.

"We are ending bad practice, and we are building responsible and professional diplomacy - diplomacy at the service of all our citizens," Radulović said.

In the next period, the Minister said, we will continue our path towards the European Union even faster and safer. According to the latest polls, 80 percent of Montenegrin citizens support EU membership.

"We will develop close relations with all our neighbours with whom we share the past, but also what is much more important - a common European future, based on mutual respect and the principles of sovereignty and independence," Radulović said.