President of the Parliament of Montenegro Mr Ivan Brajović spoke today at the video session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP PA), gathering 13 countries of the region. The topic of this year’s session was “Outlook for regional cooperation in the post-pandemic era: time for greater integration?”
President Brajović said that under the circumstances of the coronavirus pandemic, each country had shown its fundamental values and principles, the way it treated its citizens, but also its behaviour in international relations. He pointed out that in Montenegro there was never any dilemma which way to go and what we wanted to achieve, which was a civic, stable, democratic Montenegro, a member of NATO and the EU. He reminded that that vision was written down in the preamble of our Constitution of 2007. President Brajović also informed the participants about the fact that Montenegro was facing another serious challenge, which was unprincipled pressure on our decision-making sovereignty and implementation of set European priorities, aimed at causing divisions and tensions. He reiterated that today’s Montenegro had the strength and capacity to resist all pressures and attacks, continuing to move forward on its path, taking care primarily of its citizens and national interests.
The President of the Parliament pointed out that Montenegro was facing a new period, to enter the next stage of the EU integration as rapidly as possible as the only candidate country with all negotiation chapters open. He invited his EU colleagues, despite all challenges, to keep the door of the Union open to the countries of South-East Europe, because that was our common political, economic and security interest.
At the end of his speech, President Brajović said that the priority of all parliaments must be more than ever the defence of democratic values and solidarity, emphasising that they had a responsible partner in the Parliament of Montenegro to implement our common European future.
At the session of the SEECP Parliamentary Assembly, the participants also agreed on the Declaration reaffirming the important role of this organisation in strengthening stability and prosperity in South East Europe, emphasising that the EU perspective still provided a strong motive for reforms and stability in the region. They also unanimously accepted the amendments by the delegation of the Parliament of Montenegro emphasising the significance of promoting good neighbourly relations and cooperation, with mutual respect and appreciation, aimed at making the region more democratic, more resilient and more economically advanced. They also pointed out the expectation that the pace of the EU enlargements would be more certain, so that aspiring members could continue to implement the necessary reforms.
As a member of the Montenegrin Delegation, MP Mr Milorad Vuletić also participated in the session of the SEECP PA.
The Parliamentary Dimension of the South East European Cooperation Process was launched in 1997 and, in addition to Montenegro, it consists of twelve more countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Greece, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Moldova, Romania, Slovenia, Serbia and Turkey.
VIDEO:
Speech of President of the Parliament of Montenegro Mr Ivan Brajović
Footage - Seventh plenary session of the SEECP PA
