Milatović: Political revitalization is important for the improvement of economic relations between Montenegro and Serbia

After Brussels and a visit to European institutions and the headquarters of the North Atlantic Alliance, I am coming to Belgrade with the intention of contributing to the revitalization of political relations between the two countries, said the President of Montenegro, Jakov Milatović.

The Information Service of the President of Montenegro announced that Milatović attended a formal reception at the Montenegrin House in Belgrade as part of his first official visit to Serbia.

"The presence of President Vučić at my inauguration on May 20, Minister Dacić at the Summit within the framework of the Cooperation Process in Southeast Europe - which we had in Podgorica on June 27, and this my first visit to Belgrade, in such a short period of time, are exactly in favor of improvement relations between the two countries. The revitalization of political relations is important for the improvement of our economic relations, which results in direct benefits for the economy and citizens," said Milatović.

He said that Serbia is by far Montenegro's largest trade partner, with a trade of 764 million euros last year, which represents a fifth of the total turnover of goods abroad.

"Serbia is also the largest tourist market for us. In 2022, 435 tourist arrivals from Serbia were realized in Montenegro, which is a share of 21 percent of the total number of foreign tourist arrivals. When we talk about the structure, the most overnight stays were made by tourists from Serbia , and that's slightly above 3 million or 25,5 percent of the total number," Milatović pointed out.

He added that Serbia was the largest foreign investor in Montenegro last year with 137 million euros or 12 percent of the total value of foreign direct investments.

"Despite the data I presented, with Serbia, which is our most important economic partner, Montenegro does not have relations at the ambassadorial level - not for technical reasons, but for political reasons, the two countries do not have common border crossings - as we have with Bosnia and Herzegovina and with Albania, payment transactions represent a serious business barrier, our Mixed Commissions for resolving these apparently technical issues have not met for years, and a joint session of the Governments of the two countries has never been held," Milatović assessed.

He said that, despite all the challenges, the ties between the citizens and the economy of Montenegro and Serbia remained strong, and that it was therefore the responsibility and obligation of the statesmen of the two countries not to disturb these relations, but to improve them.

"Apart from traditional ties and close relations, Montenegro and Serbia are permanently linked by common goals, which are primarily regional stability and membership in the European Union. I grew up intellectually in the West, I lived and worked in developed Western countries, and I know that you can also get there by taking a plane and flying over your neighbors - but that's where I learned, that only when you build trust with neighboring countries, only then can you become truly and sustainably successful. By committing to these goals, we are giving good momentum to the pro-European development of the Western Balkans. Convinced the political relations of Montenegro and Serbia will go on an upward trajectory in the period ahead and that this will be a good flywheel for additional improvement of economic, cultural and overall relations," concluded Milatović.

He pointed out the importance of strengthening ties with the community of Montenegrins in Serbia and their connection with Montenegro.