Political relations at the level of leadership of Montenegro and Serbia are increasingly better, and the parliamentary diplomacy which opens doors and facilitates path towards cooperation on all other levels is especially significant in that process - jointly concluded presidents of parliaments of Montenegro and Serbia Mr Ivan Brajović and Ms Maja Gojković respectively, following a meeting held today at the beginning of the official bilateral visit of the delegation of the Parliament of Montenegro to the Republic of Serbia. At the joint press conference in the Serbian parliament, President Brajović said that Montenegro was continuously dedicated to building friendly neighbourly relations with Serbia, additionally strengthened by the regional context and goals of both countries to become EU members.
- Defining our relations, especially after both countries gained independence, enabled those relations to be relaxed and to increasingly progress every day. What is very significant is that the public of our two countries knows that the historical relations are very complex, they were often assessed from various positions, and also often assessed through the aspect of our internal needs but also the needs of our broader surroundings. I must say that, when we assess the political aspect, these are certainly the best relations at the leadership level in the last decade.
- Furthermore, I also must say, that, in addition to that, all economic, infrastructural, and tourism cooperation is taking its course and there are no obstacles and no reservations, no limitations. Furthermore, it is very important that today, as the most responsible people of the National Assembly of Serbia and the Parliament of Montenegro, we have discussed the improvement of our parliamentary cooperation. We have assessed that it is very important that the parliamentary diplomacy with its flexibility can contribute to acceleration of cooperation on all other levels. I am convinced that this visit as well will contribute to that, and, of course, this is just a continuation of visits at the highest level between Montenegro and Serbia - said, among other things, President Brajović.
Speaker of the National Assembly Ms Maja Gojković said that both Serbia and Montenegro equally paid due attention to the improvement of bilateral relations and that, at the level of parliaments, as people who represented the citizens of Serbia and Montenegro, we showed by own example that the dialogue between politicians of our two countries, linked by many foreign policy determinations, history, as well as, obviously joint future in the European Union, was something which was the most necessary for our understanding.
- Of course, we discussed the processes in which both of our countries are, as well as foreign policy priorities and goals, such as the future in the European Union, full membership of both of our countries in the European Union, and Montenegro. Primarily, the Parliament of Montenegro is ready to help our colleagues parliamentarians from the Committee on European Integration in an equal manner such as the help is given at the governmental level while opening a negotiation chapter, by sharing experiences of parliamentarians who participate in that process. We give each other significant and genuine support on that path. We discussed the possibility of the Berlin Process getting another dimension, the parliamentary dimension. I announced to the distinguished President who agrees with that idea, to present our idea to everyone who is in the Berlin Process and, probably before its next meeting which will be held in London, the Berlin Process will also get this dimension - said, among other things, Ms Maja Gojković.
In the Serbian parliament, the delegation, which, in addition to President Brajović, consists of MP Mr Radule Novović and Secretary General Mr Aleksandar Jovićević, has also held meetings with the Parliamentary Friendship Group and the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia.
At the meetings in the Government of Serbia with the Prime Minister Ms Ana Brnabić and the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr Ivica Dačić, they noted that the communication between Montenegro and Serbia was regular, meaningful and of good quality, as well as that regional stability was a precondition for accelerated economic development. Significant attention was paid to the European perspective of Montenegro and Serbia, while President Brajović, on this occasion as well, emphasised our country’s advocacy for the “regatta principle”, or measuring individual performance of candidates for EU membership.
Day one of the official bilateral visit to Serbia ended with the conversation with the non-resident ambassadors who cover Montenegro from Belgrade. The meeting was held in the representative building of Montenegrin House, and key topics of discussion were referring to the current political developments in Montenegro, as well as relations with the Western Balkans countries.
The programme of the bilateral visit to the Republic of Serbia will be continued on Friday with the meeting with President Aleksandar Vučić, President of the Assembly of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina Mr István Pásztor, and President of the Provincial Government Mr Igor Mirović.
Meeting with the representatives of Montenegrin diaspora will be held in the Petrovaradin Fortress, along with the opening of the exhibition “Art Collection of the Parliament of Montenegro”.
The visit of the delegation of the Parliament of Montenegro is followed by a large number of journalist crews from Serbia, and President Brajović gave exclusive interviews to daily Politika and RTS.
Supplement:
Integral statements of Mr Ivan Brajović and Ms Maja Gojković
National Assembly of Serbia - VIDEO FOOTAGE
Statement Ms Gojković
Statement Mr Brajović - National Assembly
Meeting with Mr Dačić, Ms Brnabić and non-resident ambassadors - VIDEO FOOTAGE
