Montenegro and North Macedonia have integrated inter-ethnic and inter-religious tolerance into the foundations of their statehood, while they are bound by a period of coexistence and fraternal inter-state relations, strengthened by aspirations to join the family of the most developed states in Europe.
This is the joint assessment from the meeting of the President of the Committee for International Relations and Emigrants, Miodrag Lekić, and the newly appointed Ambassador of North Macedonia to Montenegro, Zećir Ramčilović (Zeḱir Ramčilović).
"Lekić expressed his belief that regional cooperation and good neighborly relations are the key prerequisites for the further progress of the Western Balkans in order to reach the standards of respected European countries, towards which we strive together," the statement of the Parliament of Montenegro states.
As Lekić said, "our two countries can learn a lot from each other's experiences, it is desirable to strengthen political-diplomatic relations in order to improve and establish the concept of permanent peace and stability in the chronically unstable Balkans, which are a prerequisite for primarily economic, but also any other progress of our societies".
Ramčilović emphasized that Montenegro's examples of good practice in the negotiation process with the European Union and its perspective as the next member represent inspiration and momentum for North Macedonia and other countries in the region to strongly continue progress in the process of joining the community of European nations.
"Quality bilateral relations can be additionally stimulated by parliamentary diplomacy, which represents a very practical mechanism for strengthening dialogue at the level of representative bodies, through the unique mechanism of friendship groups and visits at the highest level," Ramčilović emphasized.
Lekić and Ramčilović agree that the upcoming 10th jubilee session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Cooperation Process in Southeast Europe (PS SEECP), chaired by Montenegro, and attended by the Speaker of the Assembly of North Macedonia, Talat Džaferi, will represent a unique opportunity to improve multilateral relations.
"This confirms mutual readiness to continue strengthening the overall cooperation, especially the fact that North Macedonia will take over the next chairmanship of the PS SEECP after Montenegro", the announcement concludes.
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