Rumen Radev and Milo Djukanovic: The European perspective of Southeast Europe has no alternative and is of key importance for the stability, security and development of the region
2022-07-11 18:22:00
In times of overlapping crises, the key to success is cohesion, solidarity and interaction between all countries in the Balkans and Europe, President Rumen Radev said in Podgorica
The European perspective of Southeast Europe has no alternative and is crucial for the stability, security and prosperity of the entire region. This was the common position of the Presidents of Bulgaria and Montenegro Rumen Radev and Milo Djukanovic, who held a meeting today at the presidential palace in Cetinje. Head of State Rumen Radev is on an official visit to Montenegro at the invitation of his Montenegrin counterpart.
Rumen Radev expressed Bulgaria's strong support for Montenegro's European path, which is the most advanced country in the EU enlargement process. The strong support of the Montenegrin citizens for EU accession is the surest guarantor of success on the path of European integration, as well as for the neutralisation of any attempts of external interference in this process, the President stressed. He also expressed hope that the path towards reforms will be accelerated and underlined that Bulgaria is ready to provide assistance with expertise to strengthen Montenegro's institutional capacity, to address all important issues not only in the accession process, but also afterwards - to achieve full integration into the EU.
If the countries at both ends of the Balkan Peninsula can achieve success in our cooperation, it also means that all countries in the region, despite the challenges, can do so, Rumen Radev said. The two presidents agreed on the position that in times of overlapping crises, the key to success is cohesion, solidarity and interaction between all countries in the region and in Europe, which should also strengthen mutual trust between the countries in Southeast Europe.
Despite the active political dialogue at all levels, economic ties are still far from the ambitions and capabilities of the two countries, the two presidents noted. I hope that after the formation of the new government in Bulgaria, the fifth session of the joint economic commission will be held in the quickest way, right here in Montenegro, which will open new horizons for economic interaction," Rumen Radev stressed. He added that Montenegro should be more active and become much more visible for Bulgarian businesses and investors because the potential it offers in a number of areas is great.
From Cetinje, Rumen Radev focused on regional connectivity, the deepening of which would also have a positive impact on bilateral relations in various areas of mutual interest. In his words, the focus of regional cooperation should be on improving road connectivity, air links and digital connectivity. This is the only way we can push ahead with the most important thing - the exchange of people, projects, capital, and initiatives between our two countries. In the President's words, a key to successful cooperation is also the deepening of ties in the education system, because, as the President put it, the exchange between young and talented people, with their ideas, with their vision for the future of the region and Europe, will be a stimulus for cooperation and ties in all other areas of mutual interest.
In conditions of overlapping crises in the security, energy, inflation, food crisis risks, it is extremely important that the countries of our region show responsibility, European conviction and active regional cooperation in the already established formats," the Bulgarian President further said. Rumen Radev added that in this respect Bulgaria and Montenegro show that they have a pragmatic policy aimed at increasing trust. Rumen Radev called for a proactive policy that not only tackles the aftereffects of the crises, but also does what is necessary to prevent the secondary effects of the war in Ukraine on our region.
President Radev congratulated Montenegro for assuming the chairmanship of the South East European Cooperation Process this year. The Head of State also highlighted Montenegro's achievements during its chairmanship of the Central European Initiative over the past two years and said that Bulgaria, which currently holds the chairmanship of the initiative, has a good basis to further develop the joint activity, thanks to Montenegro's contribution. Cooperation within the NATO system and the common commitment that Bulgaria and Montenegro share to strengthen security and stability in the Balkans were also underlined during the meeting.
Later in Podgorica, the Bulgarian President held meetings with the Speaker of the Parliament, Daniela Djurovic, as well as with Prime Minister Dritan Abazovic. The Head of State called for cohesion, solidarity and joint efforts of the countries in the region to counter the crises. In Rumen Radev's words, regional connectivity should become a common priority for all Balkan countries, both to minimize the negative effects of the series of crises and to achieve energy diversification, as well as to avoid a food crisis, to really fight inflation, promote investments and achieve higher economic growth in our region.
