President of Montenegro Jakov Milatović said that in challenging times, diplomacy becomes increasingly important and that therefore, in efforts to address current problems, it is crucial to look at things from the other side's perspective, in order to fully understand all the circumstances and decisions being made.
He spoke at the leadership panel "Searching for Partnership in the Era of Multipolarization" as part of the Antalya Diplomatic Forum, which he is participating in at the invitation of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Milatović emphasized that the event is an opportunity to discuss diplomatic activities connecting the Balkans and Turkey, in a way that further strengthens our ties, his office announced.
He said that Montenegro, as the most advanced candidate for membership in the European Union, has a "realistic goal" to become the next member by 2028, and that our country's membership can be an example of a success story and an encouragement to other candidate countries.
He also said that it has become clear in the EU how important it is to continue with the enlargement process, especially in the context of strengthening the security of the European continent.
Regional cooperation, he said, is one of the priority goals of our country and is crucial for establishing regional stability. In that context, he pointed out that Montenegro is recognized as a country that has excellent relations with its neighbors.
Speaking about our country's foreign policy priorities, Milatović emphasized that Montenegro is a credible member of NATO, which is "especially important in the current geopolitical circumstances."
"The panel participants praised Montenegro's achievements in strengthening good neighborly relations, improving regional cooperation, and strengthening partnership ties with important international actors," the statement reads.
The forum in Antalya brought together numerous world leaders to exchange views on the possibilities of how diplomacy can change the course of events, with an emphasis on solutions for ending conflicts, mediation strategies and regional cooperation mechanisms, Milatović's office said.
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