Đukanović: No pressure over Kosovo

Montenegrin Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic says no one is putting pressure on Montenegro to recognize Kosovo. “Montenegro is a serious partner of the international community and our cooperation is based on the principles of consideration and not putting pressure and setting conditions,” Djukanovic told Podgorica media. Djukanovic: No pressure over Kosovo He added that his country will follow its national interests regarding this question, and described EU and NATO membership as the strategic goals. “We share foreign politicy stances, priorities and goals with our partners in the European Union and NATO. We will determine the dynamics of the process in agreement with our partners in the international community, taking into consideration all circumstances, especially the need to maintain good neighborly relations, along with internal and regional stability,” he said. Djukanovic added that for Montenegro, which two years ago renewed her statehood lost in 1918, “not only fulfilled expectations, but exceeded them as well.” “Two years after gaining independence, we can say with satisfaction that we created a stable political situation in the country, good economic trends and a dynamic process of adopting European standards in almost all fields,” Djukanovic said. He said that not many believed that Montenegro would be close to the application for EU membership in only two years. “Even though we were sure that independence would improve our economic growth and development, even the greatest optimists could not predict there would be this much interest from foreign investors in Montenegro and its potential,” Djukanovic said. The premier added that the only people who cannot see positive changes in Montenegro over the last two years are the people who do not want to see them. “Without special analysis and statistics, you only need to pass through any part of Montenegro to see the dynamic changes at every step,” Djukanovic said, adding that "it can get better for each and every citizen, even for those who have not been benefited until now or have not had the opportunity for change". The Montenegrin prime minister said that "work must be put into strengthening the capacity for removing societal irregularities".

Đukanović: No pressure over Kosovo

He added that his country will follow its national interests regarding this question, and described EU and NATO membership as the strategic goals. “We share foreign politicy stances, priorities and goals with our partners in the European Union and NATO. We will determine the dynamics of the process in agreement with our partners in the international community, taking into consideration all circumstances, especially the need to maintain good neighborly relations, along with internal and regional stability,” he said. Đukanović added that for Montenegro, which two years ago renewed her statehood lost in 1918, “not only fulfilled expectations, but exceeded them as well.” “Two years after gaining independence, we can say with satisfaction that we created a stable political situation in the country, good economic trends and a dynamic process of adopting European standards in almost all fields,” Đukanović said.

He said that not many believed that Montenegro would be close to the application for EU membership in only two years.

“Even though we were sure that independence would improve our economic growth and development, even the greatest optimists could not predict there would be this much interest from foreign investors in Montenegro and its potential,” Đukanović said.

The premier added that the only people who cannot see positive changes in Montenegro over the last two years are the people who do not want to see them.

“Without special analysis and statistics, you only need to pass through any part of Montenegro to see the dynamic changes at every step,” Đukanović said, adding that "it can get better for each and every citizen, even for those who have not been benefited until now or have not had the opportunity for change".

The Montenegrin prime minister said that "work must be put into strengthening the capacity for removing societal irregularities".