"Serbia, Montenegro should have excellent relations"

PODGORICA It is in both Serbia and Montenegro’s interest to have the best possible relations, Presidents Tomislav Nikolic and Filip Vujanovic have agreed. They added that everything should be done to raise cooperation of the two friendly countries to the highest possible level. "Serbia, Montenegro should have excellent relations" Nikolic started his official visit to Montenegro on Friday at Vujanovic’s invitation. After the talks in Cetinje, they underscored at a joint press conference that the two countries were committed to improving relations in all domains of mutual interest. “We share the common values and goals, i.e. we have much in common. Therefore, it is unnatural that Serbia and Montenegro do not have the best possible relations,” Nikolic said. “Belgrade considers Montenegro a sovereign state and fully fledged member of the United Nations,” he underlined. Vujanovic said that the relations between Serbia and Montenegro should be seen as a good example, not only in the region, but also globally. “The relations between Montenegro and Serbia have been reflecting an upward trend recently and our obligation it to give full contribution to such aspirations,” the Montenegrin president noted. “I wish Montenegro a lot of luck, difficult years are ahead of you. We will slowly follow you on the EU pathway and I hope that we will not have any obstacles other than those we can overcome and are ready to overcome many obstacles so Serbia will become an EU member and we would then open all borders between us or remove them completely,” Nikolic said. “We would then remove all borders between us and it would not matter if you live in Serbia or in Montenegro,” he added. “The two of us want to eliminate those issues immediately and to put all problems and unresolved issues on the table so we would not leave any of them to others that are coming,” the Serbian president noted. The Serbian president will also meet with Montenegro’s Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic, parliament Speaker Ranko Krivokapic, representatives of Matica Srpska and New Serb Democracy leader Andrija Mandic during his one-day visit. Ahead of the visit, Nikolic stated that all open issues between Belgrade and Podgorica “should be solved in a brotherly manner” because Serbia and Montenegro were close countries. He added that he was a “typical Serbian politician” because he had good relations with most Montenegrin politicians. “I think there is an adequate solution to every problem. It is always possible to find a solution if there is wisdom and good will on both sides. I assure you that there will be no lack of good will on my part. I expect the same from my interlocutors and I hope that together we will have enough wisdom to start solving the piled up problems in the interest of all our citizens,” the Serbian president told Podgorica-based daily Dan. He stressed that Serbia and Montenegro had almost always had good relations. When asked if Montenegro’s recognition of Kosovo’s independence affected the Belgrade-Podgorica relations, Nikolic said that the Montenegro’s decision certainly did not contribute to improvement of relations with Serbia. “I cannot turn back the time, I cannot change the past but I want to contribute as much as I can so we do not ruin any further what our fathers, grandfathers and other ancestors left us and those are brotherly relations between Serbia and Montenegro,” he explained. Tomislav Nikolic and Filip Vujanovic are seen at Podgorica airport (Tanjug) I did not come to campaign for elections, president says Nikolic stressed he did not visit Montenegro on the day elections were called in order to campaign, noting the election was an internal matter of Montenegro and its citizens. A question whether his visit to Montenegro today meant support to Vujanovic in his run for a second term surprised both presidents, who asked reporters about the date of the announcement. “The visit was arranged before, I did not know that elections have been announced until you told me,” said Nikolic. "I did not come to campaign, so you will not see me in Montenegro from today until elections are over," he added. The Serbian president explained that when he spoke about the need for Serb representatives to get involved in the Montenegrin government, he was not talking about the presidential election, but about all levels of government from the local upwards. "The people of Montenegro will elect their own president. I do not want to meddle," said the Serbian president. When asked whether his statement that the Serbs in Montenegro should stop being the opposition was meddling in the country's internal affairs, since the Serb political representatives consider the current government in Montenegro a mafia government, Nikolic said that those who believed this should become part of the government, take office and publicly and seriously discuss the information they had. Explaining his position, the Serbian president said the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), which he headed before becoming president, could not do anything to fight corruption while it was in the opposition. Vujanovic: Belgrade, Podgorica improve relations Vuajnovic said that relations between Serbia and Montenegro had been improving, adding that his country supported the idea of Serbia getting a date for the beginning of the EU accession talks. “Montenegro is interested in Serbia getting a date for the beginning of the negotiations as soon as possible. This is in Serbia and the entire region’s interest. Montenegro is ready to help with its experience and support Serbia’s European pathway,” he underscored. The Montenegrin president pointed out that Serbia and Montenegro should improve their mutual cooperation in all areas. “Our current relations are on a high level but there is always room for improvement,” Vujanovic said, adding that the two countries should especially focus on economic relations. He stressed that Montenegro was ready to make sure that rights of the Serb community are fully ensured and that Podgorica expected the same treatment for the Montenegrin community in Serbia. The Montenegrin president said that former Serbian President Boris Tadic’s cabinet had interfered in Montenegro’s internal issues which did not contribute to good relations between the two countries. B92 Tanjug

"Serbia, Montenegro should have excellent relations"

Nikolić started his official visit to Montenegro on Friday at Vujanović’s invitation.

After the talks in Cetinje, they underscored at a joint press conference that the two countries were committed to improving relations in all domains of mutual interest.

“We share the common values and goals, i.e. we have much in common. Therefore, it is unnatural that Serbia and Montenegro do not have the best possible relations,” Nikolić said.

“Belgrade considers Montenegro a sovereign state and fully fledged member of the United Nations,” he underlined.

Vujanović said that the relations between Serbia and Montenegro should be seen as a good example, not only in the region, but also globally.

“The relations between Montenegro and Serbia have been reflecting an upward trend recently and our obligation it to give full contribution to such aspirations,” the Montenegrin president noted.

“I wish Montenegro a lot of luck, difficult years are ahead of you. We will slowly follow you on the EU pathway and I hope that we will not have any obstacles other than those we can overcome and are ready to overcome many obstacles so Serbia will become an EU member and we would then open all borders between us or remove them completely,” Nikolić said.

“We would then remove all borders between us and it would not matter if you live in Serbia or in Montenegro,” he added.

“The two of us want to eliminate those issues immediately and to put all problems and unresolved issues on the table so we would not leave any of them to others that are coming,” the Serbian president noted.

The Serbian president will also meet with Montenegro’s Prime Minister Milo Đukanović, parliament Speaker Ranko Krivokapić, representatives of Matica Srpska and New Serb Democracy leader Andrija Mandić during his one-day visit.

Ahead of the visit, Nikolić stated that all open issues between Belgrade and Podgorica “should be solved in a brotherly manner” because Serbia and Montenegro were close countries.

He added that he was a “typical Serbian politician” because he had good relations with most Montenegrin politicians.

“I think there is an adequate solution to every problem. It is always possible to find a solution if there is wisdom and good will on both sides. I assure you that there will be no lack of good will on my part. I expect the same from my interlocutors and I hope that together we will have enough wisdom to start solving the piled up problems in the interest of all our citizens,” the Serbian president told Podgorica-based daily Dan.

He stressed that Serbia and Montenegro had almost always had good relations.

When asked if Montenegro’s recognition of Kosovo’s independence affected the Belgrade-Podgorica relations, Nikolić said that the Montenegro’s decision certainly did not contribute to improvement of relations with Serbia.

“I cannot turn back the time, I cannot change the past but I want to contribute as much as I can so we do not ruin any further what our fathers, grandfathers and other ancestors left us and those are brotherly relations between Serbia and Montenegro,” he explained.

I did not come to campaign for elections, president says

Nikolić stressed he did not visit Montenegro on the day elections were called in order to campaign, noting the election was an internal matter of Montenegro and its citizens.

A question whether his visit to Montenegro today meant support to Vujanović in his run for a second term surprised both presidents, who asked reporters about the date of the announcement.

“The visit was arranged before, I did not know that elections have been announced until you told me,” said Nikolić.

"I did not come to campaign, so you will not see me in Montenegro from today until elections are over," he added.

The Serbian president explained that when he spoke about the need for Serb representatives to get involved in the Montenegrin government, he was not talking about the presidential election, but about all levels of government from the local upwards.

"The people of Montenegro will elect their own president. I do not want to meddle," said the Serbian president.

When asked whether his statement that the Serbs in Montenegro should stop being the opposition was meddling in the country's internal affairs, since the Serb political representatives consider the current government in Montenegro a mafia government, Nikolić said that those who believed this should become part of the government, take office and publicly and seriously discuss the information they had.

Explaining his position, the Serbian president said the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), which he headed before becoming president, could not do anything to fight corruption while it was in the opposition.

Vujanović: Belgrade, Podgorica improve relations

Vuajnović said that relations between Serbia and Montenegro had been improving, adding that his country supported the idea of Serbia getting a date for the beginning of the EU accession talks.

“Montenegro is interested in Serbia getting a date for the beginning of the negotiations as soon as possible. This is in Serbia and the entire region’s interest. Montenegro is ready to help with its experience and support Serbia’s European pathway,” he underscored.

The Montenegrin president pointed out that Serbia and Montenegro should improve their mutual cooperation in all areas.

“Our current relations are on a high level but there is always room for improvement,” Vujanović said, adding that the two countries should especially focus on economic relations.

He stressed that Montenegro was ready to make sure that rights of the Serb community are fully ensured and that Podgorica expected the same treatment for the Montenegrin community in Serbia.

The Montenegrin president said that former Serbian President Boris Tadić’s cabinet had interfered in Montenegro’s internal issues which did not contribute to good relations between the two countries.