Montenegro EU application imminent

Montenegrin Prime Minister Milo Đukanović says that Podgorica will apply for EU membership by the end of the year.

Izvor: Tanjug

Saturday, 02.08.2008.

15:20

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Montenegrin Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic says that Podgorica will apply for EU membership by the end of the year. Djukanovic said that Montenegro could have applied in April, but did not do so because it wanted to meet all the criteria first. Montenegro EU application imminent “We’ll submit the application by the end of the year, but it’s very important that we clearly state that it is in Europe’s interest for the Western Balkans to be in the Union as much as it is in the Balkan countries’ interests to be integrated into Europe,” he told Montenegrin state TV. The prime minister dismissed suggestions from one Slovenian diplomat that Montenegro had dropped its plans to apply so as to avoid a negative European backlash for Serbia. As far as Serbia was concerned, he said that it was one of the biggest Balkan countries, that it should be part of the European make-up, and that it should steer the Balkan countries towards integration. Djukanovic welcomed the formation of a pro-EU government in Serbia, adding that the extradition of Radovan Karadzic would have a big impact on resolving the issue of cooperation with the Hague Tribunal. “I think Serbia’s place is in Europe, and that Mirko Cvetkovic’s government will aid its integration,” said the prime minister. Reiterating that no-one from the international community was applying any pressure on Montenegro to recognize Kosovo independence, he said that Montenegro had in recent years shown that it was not a country susceptible to pressure. “What’s more, it strikes me that the international community has a lot of sympathy for Montenegro’s caution as far as Kosovo is concerned, as no other country in the world is in such a unique situation over this issue,” Djukanovic pointed out. Mile Djukanovic (FoNet, archive)

Montenegro EU application imminent

“We’ll submit the application by the end of the year, but it’s very important that we clearly state that it is in Europe’s interest for the Western Balkans to be in the Union as much as it is in the Balkan countries’ interests to be integrated into Europe,” he told Montenegrin state TV.

The prime minister dismissed suggestions from one Slovenian diplomat that Montenegro had dropped its plans to apply so as to avoid a negative European backlash for Serbia.

As far as Serbia was concerned, he said that it was one of the biggest Balkan countries, that it should be part of the European make-up, and that it should steer the Balkan countries towards integration.

Đukanović welcomed the formation of a pro-EU government in Serbia, adding that the extradition of Radovan Karadžić would have a big impact on resolving the issue of cooperation with the Hague Tribunal.

“I think Serbia’s place is in Europe, and that Mirko Cvetković’s government will aid its integration,” said the prime minister.

Reiterating that no-one from the international community was applying any pressure on Montenegro to recognize Kosovo independence, he said that Montenegro had in recent years shown that it was not a country susceptible to pressure.

“What’s more, it strikes me that the international community has a lot of sympathy for Montenegro’s caution as far as Kosovo is concerned, as no other country in the world is in such a unique situation over this issue,” Đukanović pointed out.

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