The Western Balkans have a place in the European Union (EU), said Montenegrin Foreign Minister Filip Ivanović, adding that a united Europe is the guarantee of stability and security of the continent.
Ivanovic spoke on the panel discussion "Challenges and Opportunities in the Balkans" on the second day of the Antalya Diplomatic Forum.
As announced by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), the foreign ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina Elmedin Konaković, Serbia's Ivica Dačić and North Macedonia's Bujar Osmani, as well as the special envoy of the British Prime Minister for the Western Balkans, Stuart Pic, also spoke on the panel.
"The Western Balkans have a place in the European Union (EU). Full membership in the EU has no alternative and remains a goal that unites the region, while contributing to long-term stability and prosperity," Ivanovic said.
According to him, the integration process is an important driver of democratization, peace and institution building in the Western Balkans.
This, he added, is of particular importance for overcoming deep-rooted social, structural challenges.
Referring to the numerous geopolitical changes that have marked the last two years, Ivanovic pointed out that various global and regional actors have their own goals and interests in the Western Balkans.
He believes that it is therefore important to speed up the negotiation process and avoid the risks that come with waiting too long for membership.
"I am convinced that, with mutual commitment, we can give a new dynamic to the integration process, and Montenegro, as a leader in the negotiations, will continue resolutely with reforms, so that we can become a full member of the Union as soon as possible," Ivanovic said.
He also assessed that progress based on merit is a guarantee and confirmation to all candidate countries that the door of the EU is open and that the enlargement process is alive.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Ivanovic met with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Moldova, Mihai Popšoj, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey, Hakan Fidan, in Antalya.
Ivanovic also met with the foreign ministers of Lebanon Abdallah Bou Habib, Janine Tevaney Menkomo of Panama, Frederik Shava of Zimbabwe, Grace Naledi Mandisa Pandor of South Africa, as well as the deputy foreign minister of Brazil, Laura de Rocha.
It is reported that Ivanovic also spoke with the Director General for Europe at the European External Action Service, Angelina Einhorst.
"The bilateral meetings were an opportunity to exchange opinions on current global topics and challenges, but also to look at the possibilities of strengthening bilateral cooperation, political dialogue, as well as intensifying contacts in multilateral forums, in accordance with the foreign policy priorities of the 44th Government," the statement says. .
It is stated that Ivanovic informed the interlocutors about the clear position of Montenegro.
He said that Montenegro is a country whose goal is to become the next member of the EU, and that the country is committed to multilateralism, peace and resolving conflicts through diplomacy and strengthening bilateral contacts and strengthening partnerships, alliances and cooperation with friendly countries.
On the sidelines of the Forum, Ivanovic spoke with Dačić, the foreign ministers of Albania, Igli Hasani, Luxembourg, Javier Betel, Romania, Luminica Odobescu, and the diplomatic adviser of the President of the United Arab Emirates, Anvar Mohamed Gargas.
It is added that Ivanovic also spoke with the former head of Turkish diplomacy who initiated the organization of the Antalya Diplomatic Forum in 2021, Mevlut Cavusoglu.
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