President of the Republic of Montenegro

February 03, 2010

First day of the official visit of the President of Montenegro to the Republic of Italy

Support to Integration and Furthering of Economic Cooperation

Rome, Montenegro can count on full support of Italy in the European and Euro-Atlantic integration process and the two countries are committed to furthering of Economic Cooperation – it was stated in Rome following talks of the Presidents Filip Vujanovic and Giorgio Napolitano.

The Italian president said at the press conference that Rome supports commitment of Montenegro to receive by the end of the year the candidate status for the European Union membership. “Montenegro is on a good path of European integration and we expect it to be soon defined as a candidate country for the EU accession”, said Napolitano, adding that Montenegro can count on full support of Italy in that process. He pointed out that Italy supports full membership of Montenegro in NATO, as well. “European and Euro-Atlantic integration processes can only help in consolidation of the very complex region such as that of the Western Balkans”, stated the Italian president.
Napolitano stated that Italy and Montenegro have good and comprehensive relations and that economic cooperation is being furthered, especially in the field of energy cooperation.

Vujanovic said that Italy is becoming the strategic partner of Montenegro on its further way of European and Euro-Atlantic integration processes. “Montenegro’s path to European and Euro-Atlantic integration is supported by Italy and we are grateful for that”, he said. Stating that Italy assisted in establishing the visa liberalization and receipt of the European Commission Questionnaire, Vujanovic said that there is positive mood in Rome to enable the candidate status for the EU membership for Montenegro by the end of the year.
According to him, the Italian side helped Montenegro to get the Membership Action Plan (MAP), and support of Rome to full acceptance of our country into the North-Atlantic Alliance will be present as well.
He stated that he is very glad that the bilateral relations in the field of economy are developing, i.e. that Montenegro is establishing strategic partnership with Italy in the field of energy.
Vujanovic announced the upcoming meeting of the Prime Minister, Milo Djukanovic, and Silvio Berlusconi in Rome, which will promote the need for further economic cooperation of the two countries.
He said that the agreement on cooperation of the Governments of Italy and Montenegro is in its final phase and that it will ensure further economic cooperation, as well as the support of Rome to European and Euro-Atlantic integration processes of Montenegro.
“All of this makes it possible for Italy to become the strategic partner of Montenegro on its further way of European and Euro-Atlantic integration processes”, emphasized Vujanovic.

The Montenegrin President invited Napolitano to visit Montenegro, which he accepted.

Vujanovic, who is staying in a two-day official visit to Italy was welcomed in Rome with highest state honours. It is the first official visit of the President of Montenegro to Italy following recognition of Montenegrin independence.

The Montenegrin President will tomorrow attend the reception which will be held in the St. John Lateran Basilica, on the occasion of anniversary of the Community of Sant’Egidio, which is committed to promotion of peace and dialogue of cultures and religions.

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