site.btaWestern Balkans' European Perspective in Focus of Talks between Foreign Ministers of Bulgaria and Montenegro

Sofia, April 3 (BTA) - Montenegro's Foreign Minister Srdjan Darmanovic said on Tuesday that the current Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU has already achieved very good results as it took only a short while to cast the European prospects of the Western Balkans in an extremely positive light. Darmanovic said: "A particularly noteworthy success of the Bulgarian EU Presidency is that you are achieving good results in an unfavourable global environment. By bringing the focus back onto the Western Balkans and our European integration, you have given hope to our entire region."

The Montenegrin top diplomat made these remarks at a news briefing in Sofia after meeting with Bulgarian Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva earlier in the day.

He thanked for the political and expert assistance for Montenegro's efforts to become an EU member. "Considering that we have been included in the development strategy until 2025 as one of the best membership candidates, I am certain that, through joint efforts, we will be able to achieve the necessary results even earlier than that," he said.

According to Darmanovic, Montenegro and Bulgaria can develop their cooperation in such areas as tourism, the economy, education, and internal security.

Taking a journalist's question about the relations between Kosovo and Serbia, the guest said the two countries should view their situation from the perspective of their shared goal of joining the EU. For her part, Zaharieva said the European perspective is what motivates the countries in the region to try to improve their bilateral relations.

According to Zaharieva, Montenegro has set a good example as a Western Balkan nation. She believes 2025 is an absolutely realistic date for the country's accession to the EU. She declared Bulgaria's full support for Montenegro opening all remaining chapters in its EU membership negotiations by the end of this year.

The two foreign ministers discussed bilateral tourism relations, including opportunities to create joint tourist routes. They also looked at the planning of an economic forum.