Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlić Radman on Thursday met with his Montenegrin counterpart Filip Ivanović, who had chosen Zagreb for his first official visit.
“I see it as a confirmation of our countries’ commitment to building relations and resolving outstanding issues in the spirit of good-neighbourliness and mutual respect. I have reiterated Croatia’s expectations - compensation for persons imprisoned in Montenegrin camps during the Homeland War, the return of the training ship Jadran, the issue of joint military property, and the demarcation of the sea border,” Grlić Radman told the press.
The two ministers also discussed the Morinj camp, where a memorial plaque was laid to symbolize the relations we have been building since 2020 in the hope of a culture of remembrance based on truth, a clear condemnation of crimes, and respect for all victims.
Grlić Radman highlighted the continuation of political, technical, and expert support to Montenegro on its European journey. The two ministers underscored national minorities as a strong tie between Croatia and Montenegro, which have a joint obligation to ensure their full rights. “Another issue we have to resolve is the of ownership of the Croatian Community Centre in Donja Lastva. We are proud of the culture of the Boka Croats, as it is the heritage of Montenegrin Croats as well as of Montenegro itself,” Grlić Radman emphasized. He added that the two countries were neighbours, friends, partners, and NATO allies, and in that spirit approached cooperation and outstanding issues.
“Relations between Montenegro and Croatia are very good and they are characterised by regular political dialogue, as well as the common European and Euro-Atlantic perspective,” Ivanović stressed. He said that the new Montenegrin government was carefully following and welcomed the Croatian government’s commitment and successes on the foreign policy front and greatly appreciated its help to Montenegro on its European journey. “Your successes are an inspiration for the challenging reforms ahead of us,” the Montenegrin foreign minister said, underlining that EU membership was Montenegro’s strategic goal and a commitment that has no alternative.
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