site.btaSofia Vows Consistent Support for EU Integration of Montenegro

119 - POLITICS - BULGARIA - MONTENEGRO - FOREIGN MINISTER

Sofia Vows Consistent Support for
EU Integration of
Montenegro


Sofia, November 10 (BTA) - Bulgaria vowed consistent support for
the EU integration of Montenegro. This transpired after a
meeting Monday of Bulgarian Foreign Minister Daniel Mitov and
Alexander Pejovic, State Secretary at the Montenegro Ministry of
Foreign Affairs and EU Integration and the country's chief
negotiator with the EU, said the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry.

The two sides noted the fine bilateral cooperation that exists
on the basis of a memorandum of cooperation in the area of
European and Euro-Atlantic integration. They underscored that a
shared will exists to continue and further broaden this
cooperation.

Pejovic said that his country appreciates the Bulgarian support
and that membership of NATO and the EU is a key priority for his
country because it sees them as a guarantee for stability and
security.

The two sides also discussed the policy on enlargement of the
new European Commission. Mitov said that the countries in the
Western Balkans should not be discouraged and should further the
reforms as recommended by the European Commission. "All
candidate counties have a chance and Montenegro has made big
progress on the road from the start of membership negotiations
to actual accession," he said.

The top Bulgarian diplomat and Montenegro's chief negotiator
discussed specific measures that Montenegro is undertaking to
make up for the delays of some legislative reforms and in
fighting graft and organized crime. "It takes a political
consensus to allow time for the new legislation to show its
effect," said Mitov. LY/LN/