Montenegro will support Kosovo's application for membership in the Council of Europe and this will not threaten the ruling coalition, said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ervin Ibrahimović.
He said that Montenegro is doing good things in the field of European integration and that the upcoming Intergovernmental Conference will be a good confirmation of that. He said that we are already talking about closing a certain number of chapters and that the current Government is working and achieving results.
"We see the messages from the European Commission's non-paper on the rule of law as confirmation of our joint work, and we will be even more decisive and agile. We are partners with the European Commission and the European Union, and I am grateful that they underline where we need to make additional efforts," Ibrahimović said in an appearance on Television of Montenegro.
He emphasized that Montenegro will direct all its strength and energy to complete negotiations with the European Union by the end of 2026. He emphasized that he firmly believes in this.
Ibrahimović said that they have positive signals from the EU and believes that Montenegro has approached its European path very responsibly.
"Everything that Montenegro is doing is doing well. All the rules on the European path are clear and we have made a commitment," Ibrahimović said, as reported by the RTCG portal.
This refers to visa policy, the minister said, explaining that they have made great efforts to explain to EU partners why Montenegro makes the decisions in the field of visa policy that it does.
"The EU recognizes that we are a reliable partner. The issue of visa-free travel has consequences for our economy. After this season, we will conduct a very serious evaluation, that is, we will see whether some countries are justified in being exempt from visas, but it is certain that we will be fully aligned with EU policy," Ibrahimović said.
He stressed that we have two-thirds of the positions filled in diplomatic and consular missions, and said that this is a great success. As he explained, we will have three ambassadors by the end of the summer, to Poland, Denmark and Romania. He called on the parliament to complete the procedures for the appointment of six ambassadors who have already received agrements.
"With my team, 13 career diplomats have been proposed, who will represent us adequately. We will have even stronger momentum on the path to the EU," said Ibrahimović.
He confirmed that Montenegro has withdrawn from the race for a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council in the period 2026-2027. However, as he said, they have highlighted their candidacy for the period 2040-2041.
Ibrahimović says he believes that this government will not change course and that it is founded on European and Euro-Atlantic values.
The issue of Kosovo's membership in the Council of Europe and Montenegro's support for that request, he said, will not endanger the ruling coalition, because foreign policy goals have been clearly set.
"Montenegro is recognized by international partners as a country that fosters good neighborly relations. Therefore, we will support our friendly country, Kosovo, because it is a foreign policy priority to be the next member of the European Union and this does not contradict that path," said Ibrahimović.
The Minister emphasized that Montenegro has the support of Croatia on its path towards the EU.
"What is good is that after five years we have started bilateral political consultations. Things have definitely moved forward. I don't want to speak in generalities, but I think that in 12 or 13 days we will have answers to certain questions," Ibrahimović said.
As foreign minister, he will be part of the Montenegrin delegation at the NATO summit in The Hague, where greater defense spending will be discussed.
"The main thing is that Montenegro is recognized as a reliable partner and we, as a small state, will contribute to collective security," said Ibrahimović.
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