Montenegro can count on the continued support of the United States of America (USA) on the path to joining the European Union, Ambassador Margaret Ann Uehara said.
"And that in the area of strengthening the rule of law, promoting civic engagement and ensuring media freedom," the ambassador emphasized at the celebration of the USA's Independence Day.
Looking back on her previous three-year ambassador engagement in Podgorica, Uehara said that she was proud of the joint results.
"Just over a year ago, Montenegro joined the NATO alliance and thus made a historic step forward in the process of Euro-Atlantic integration. Now we are working together to improve collective security around the world," she said.
Prime Minister Duško Marković said that statehood, integrity and independence are irreversibly strengthened by membership in NATO, as well as that this represents a new potential for Montenegro and a better future for its citizens, "regardless of the past and the lack of continuity in the development of the region, which has always been interrupted by wars, conflicts and misunderstanding".
"Long-term progress and development implies the rule of law, democratic standards and fundamental freedoms. Twelve years since the restoration of statehood, Montenegro has achieved a lot in reforms, but it must and needs even more. The EU remains our strategic priority, to which we are fully committed, and we are grateful to the USA , who support us on that path and understand our priorities and needs. The path to the EU is complementary to our vision of society and values," said the Prime Minister.
He added that the stability of the Western Balkans region is equally important today in the process of its European and Euro-Atlantic perspective as it was decades ago. Marković emphasized the historical importance of the visit of US Vice President Mike Pence to Podgorica last year and the message of the "unequivocal commitment of the US to the stability of Montenegro and the region that he conveyed at the time".
"The support of the US and the transatlantic connection is still crucial for the long-term stabilization of the Western Balkans, and I am convinced that it will remain high on the priority agenda of our American allies," said Marković.
While the President of Montenegro Milo Đukanović was not present at the Independence Day celebration, the President of the Assembly Ivan Brajović, former Head of State Filip Vujanović, Deputy Prime Minister Zoran Pažin, Ministers of Foreign Affairs Srđan Darmanović, Ministers of Defense Predrag Bošković, Ministers of Tourism and Sustainable Development Pavle Radulović and Economy attended the ceremony. Dragica Sekulić.
In addition to the representatives of the ruling coalition, the ceremony was also attended by the presidents of the opposition parties Democratic Montenegro Aleksa Bečić, Citizens' Movement URA Dritan Abazović, Social Democratic Party (SDP) Ranko Krivokapić, Socialist People's Party (SNP) Vladimir Joković and United Montenegro Goran Danilović.
There were no representatives of the Democratic Front at the reception, but among the guests were the mayors of Cetinje Aleksandar Kašćelan, Nikšić Veselin Grbović, Berana Dragoslav Šćekić, Petnjica Samir Agović, as well as the leaders of the Network for the Affirmation of the Non-Governmental Sector (MANS) Vanja Ćalović-Marković, the Center for Civic education (CGO) Daliborka Uljarević, Center for Democratic Transition Milica Kovačević and Alfa Center Aleksandar Dedović.
Gallery
See more:
Download the app and follow the news
FOLLOW US ON
