Minister Grlić Radman officially visits Montenegro

Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlić Radman on Friday paid an official visit to Montenegro

Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlić Radman on Friday paid an official visit to Montenegro.

Grlić Radman met with his Montenegrin counterpart, Foreign Minister Đorđe Radulović. The two ministers expressed satisfaction with this visit, underlining the importance of the continued strengthening of relations between Croatia and Montenegro as well as the willingness to resolve all outstanding issues, including border dispute, in the spirit of good-neighbourliness and European values. “We agreed to restart bilateral talks on the border issue after several years and renew the work of border commissions so that the issue can be resolved as soon as possible,” Grlić Radman said.

The two ministers also discussed EU enlargement and Montenegro’s European path. Grlić Radman said that Croatia strongly supported Montenegro in that regard. “Croatia is always emphasizing the importance of Southeast Europe for the EU, and it should always be in the Union’s focus. The enlargement has been at a standstill for quite some time, but we are convinced that the new methodology, which Montenegro has accepted as well, will give a new impetus to the process. I expect the Intergovernmental Conference with Montenegro to be held in June, in line with the new methodology,” said Grlić Radman.

The two ministers also spoke about the Bokelj Navy. “Croatia still thinks that joint nomination to UNESCO is the best way to protect the values and legacy of the Bokelj Navy,” Grlić Radman said, underscoring that the Bokelj Navy was an inalienable part of Croatia’s cultural heritage. One of the topics of the talks was also returning the “Jadran” training ship to Croatia.

In addition, Grlić Radman and Radulović discussed the people gone missing during the Homeland War. “We agreed that it is necessary to talk about it for the future of relations between our two countries. Croatia considers the issue of the missing to be important. We want light to be shed on the fate of 14 people gone missing and we also think that it is important to commemorate the suffering of the inmates of the former Morinj camp in a dignified way,” Grlić Radman said.

The two ministers also signed a Memorandum of Agreement on cooperation in diplomatic training organized by diplomatic academies based on the principle of mutual benefit. “I believe that this memorandum will contribute to the additional strengthening of human capacities,” said Grlić Radman, adding that the memorandum showed Croatia’s willingness to continue offering technical support in the transfer of EU accession know-how and experiences.

The minister also met with Montenegrin Prime Minister Zdravko Krivokapić, Deputy Prime Minister Dritan Abazović and Parliament Speaker Aleksa Bečić, discussing bilateral relations, EU enlargement and the status of the Croat minority in Montenegro. Grlić Radman also held talks with President Milo Đukanović, discussing among other things Croatia’s support for the friendly Montenegro’s European path.

 

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