The newly elected President of Montenegro, Jakov Milatović, confirmed that he will meet with high-ranking officials in Brussels on May 30th, in his first official visit since taking office, and that he will visit Belgrade very soon after that. He emphasized that Serbia is the biggest economic partner of Montenegro and that he received a verbal invitation when the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, attended his inauguration.
I received numerous invitations, I said that I think it is important and democratic to visit Belgrade very soon, after Brussels. Serbia is our biggest economic partner, and I received a verbal invitation when the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, was at the inauguration – Milatović said.
The new Montenegrin president stated that in the context of foreign policy, it is important for Montenegro to maintain and further improve NATO membership, focus on the EU and strongly improve cooperation with the countries of the Western Balkans. The presence of the leaders of all WB countries at the inauguration is support for the changes that I am the bearer of – announced Milatović.
When it comes to the Open Balkans, he is of the opinion that Montenegro’s priority is regional economic cooperation that takes place within the framework of the Berlin Process, which binds the economies of the Western Balkans, and which binds the region to the EU.
But in the end, as an economist and politician, I support all other initiatives. OB has its advantages and Montenegro can, as an active participant in that process, give value to that process, provided that it is put in the focus of our European integrations – said Milatović.
He announced a meeting on May 30th with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the European Union, Giuseppe Borella, and the European Commissioner for Enlargement, Oliver Varhelji, which aims to send a strong message that Montenegro has the political will to become part of the European Union.
I will first visit Brussels and send a symbolic message that Montenegro’s European path is the priority of all priorities during my mandate. On May 30th, I will talk with Borella and Varhelji, after which I will go to Moldova for the Summit of the European Political Community, where I will talk with the President of the European Commission, Ursula Forden Leyen, but I will also hold meetings with European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron – announced Milatović.
A visit to Washington soon
He also said that he will visit Washington very soon, and that the US President Joe Biden’s congratulatory message clearly shows the commitment of the US to reforms in Montenegro.
Milatović also announced that from his position he will work on the reconciliation of society in Montenegro, which, as he emphasized, was a victim of artificially created divisions.
Speaking about the information that some municipalities in Montenegro did not celebrate Independence Day, Milatović said that citizens should judge these things, and that everyone should show a responsible attitude towards the state and state symbols.
Commenting on the proposal of New Serbian Democracy MP Jelena Božović, who said that on the way to the reconciliation of Montenegro, the national symbols, anthem and flag should be reconsidered, Milatović said that he believes that her views are the result of “the way in which the current symbols may have been adopted”, and that spoke in the context of insufficient inclusiveness in Montenegro when making important decisions.
