site.btaPresident Plevneliev Receives Montenegro's Highest State Honour

President Plevneliev Receives Montenegro's Highest State Honour

Sofia, December 20 (BTA) - President Rosen Plevneliev received the highest state honour of Montenegro, the Order of Montenegro with Ribbon, his press secretariat said. He made a working visit to that country at the invitation of President Filip Vujanovic on Tuesday.

The order was conferred on Plevneliev in recognition of his consistent efforts and Bulgaria's staunch support for Montenegro's European and Euro-Atlantic orientation.

Plevneliev said Bulgaria sets a high priority on its relations with Montenegro. "We share common European values, we believe that our region should be even better connected, and we are working towards this goal," he said, expressing a hope that Montenegro would soon be welcomed as a full member of the European family.

The Bulgarian President also said: "We have managed to turn the Balkans from a conflict- and war-torn region into a peaceful, united region devoted to partnership. There is no better choice than being partners and helping each another." He recalled that Bulgaria was the first country to recognize Montenegro's independence in 1878.

Plevneliev and Vujanovic participated in a formal event in Cetinje marking the tenth anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

The Bulgarian President said: "Today more than ever each country needs reliable partners and good friends." He stressed that those diplomatic relations have a long and rich history, and are based on cooperation and trust. "The history of our friendship goes back a long way, not just in the last decade but thousands of years ago. We also share a future. It is no coincidence that one of the first Bulgarian legations opened in Cetinje in 1897," Plevneliev recalled.

He said that Montenegro would hold a worthy place in a strong, integrated EU in the near future. He singled out tourism, energy and industry as particularly promising for the future development of bilateral economic cooperation.

Speaking at the formal event marking the tenth anniversary of diplomatic relations, Plevneliev said that Montenegro's achievements of the last decade were noteworthy. That country has become an encouraging example to all countries of the region with its considerable progress on the track to EU and Euro-Atlantic integration. He noted as a key achievement the trust Montenegro commands and its sincere goodneighbourly relations in all regional formats of cooperation. The Bulgarian President added: "You have shown an enviable ability to achieve results and economic and political progress. You have demonstrated a responsibility for carrying out difficult but important reforms, and exceptional statesmanship."