Đukanović: Montenegro is steadfast on the course of adopting European values

On the second day of his participation in the Munich Security Conference, President Milo Đukanović met with the United Nations Under-Secretary for Political Affairs Rosemary Di Carlo and the German State Minister for Europe and Climate Anna Lirmann.

Di Carlo, as announced by Đukanović's cabinet, is pleased to meet again with the President of Montenegro, saying that the United Nations is following the situation in the Western Balkans very closely, emphasizing that the UN hears a lot about the region, and that some information is worrying. "I am here to tell you that you have full support and if we can do something in any way, we are here to do it," said Di Carlo. "We feel that the ground is shaking, and we hope that it will remain firm and stable in the Balkans", she concluded, saying that Montenegro has achieved a lot and that "we want to see even more", and that the UN is ready to help.

Đukanović reiterated that Montenegro unreservedly supports the UN system, that it achieves excellent cooperation with the team in the country and that, as a small country, it is very interested in using all the capacities of the UN. He confirmed that the renewed attention that the political department of the UN pays to the Western Balkans is justified, and to the special interest of the undersecretary, he gave a "detailed insight into the state of the region, the challenges and the space for getting out of instability", the statement added.

He said that Montenegro preserves stability and maintains the chance for the country to continue on the strategic path of NATO and the EU. "Montenegro, despite strong pressures, remains stable on the path to fulfilling its obligations towards NATO membership and accepting and applying European values," Đukanović pointed out.

The interlocutors exchanged opinions on the relations, role and cooperation of international partners in the Western Balkans.

The internal situation in Montenegro, the process of consolidation of the executive power and the situation in the region were, as reported, in the focus of interest of the Minister of State for Europe and Climate in the MFA of Germany, Anna Lirman. "The Western Balkans is very important for the new German government and is high on its priority agenda," said Leerman. Germany remains very committed to preserving the Berlin process and is open to suggestions to improve its effectiveness, the statement added.

Lirman stressed that the EU must do more to preserve the credibility of the enlargement policy while simultaneously reforming the countries of the Western Balkans. She was particularly interested, as stated, in the possibility of the new executive power to implement reform processes that will lead to the continuation of the negotiation process.

Đukanović thanked for the attention and support that Germany provides to Montenegro. "Montenegro is very satisfied with the achieved level of cooperation and is interested in continuing the frequent political dialogue with the new Government".

He presented the current political moment in the country, waiting for the definition of a new government that "will create the preconditions for the rapid unblocking of the integration process". He expressed his belief that, by dynamizing the reforms and dynamizing the negotiation process, Montenegro has every chance of becoming the next member of the EU. "Montenegro remains steadfast on the course of adopting European values," Đukanović said.

He warned of an "unacceptable vacuum" in the engagement of the EU and NATO in the region, which, he said, created space for a stronger influence of third parties. "The way out of instability can only be accelerated integration, and that presupposes a more stimulating EU, but also more effective reforms in each of the countries of the region. The Berlin process plays a strong role in this as a leading regional initiative, with a clear potential to bind the region with the EU towards membership. The threat to this is given by the holders of nationalist policies who try to offer an alternative, which is nothing more than a mask for playing off big-state ambitions. The Berlin process and membership negotiations are the answer to such threats," the president concluded.

Đukanović talked with the recent president of Armenia, Armen Sarkisian, on the sidelines.

"It was another in a series of their meetings that confirmed their commitment to strengthening Montenegrin-Armenian and excellent personal relations. Further cooperation was agreed upon," the announcement concludes.