site.btaPresident Radev Pays Visit to Montenegro, Confers with Counterpart Vujanovic

Cetinje, July 11 (BTA special correspondent Lora Metanova) - President Rumen Radev arrived Tuesday to Montenegro on a two-day visit at the invitation of the country's President Filip Vujanovic. Speaking at a news conference after meeting with Vujanovic at the Presidential palace in Cetinje, Radev said that the Western Balkan countries EU and NATO membership is the most important prerequisite for stability, security and economic development in the region.

Bulgaria will insist during its EU Presidency that countries which meet the membership criteria are given a clear perspective for their European integration, the Bulgarian head of State said. Montenegro is the most advanced country from the region in that regard and Bulgaria highly values its consecutive efforts and responsible positions regarding its EU membership. Radev recalled that the Western Balkans' integration and European perspective is a priority of the Bulgarian EU Presidency and Parliament.

Radev noted that Bulgaria was among the countries most actively supporting Montenegro's NATO membership, which is already a fact. "We are ready to continue providing cooperation and assistance with the processes of reforming and training Montenegro's armed forces, as well as with specific expertise about the negotiation process with the EU," he went on to say.

"Today's discussions convinced me that relations marked by deep trust exist between our two countries, deep historical and cultural ties, while our geographic proximity is a prerequisite for intensive economic relations," the Bulgarian President said. According to him, this potential could be utilized with better connectivity - both transport, energy and digital, so that businesses can have better investment conditions and citizens can travel more freely.

President Vujanovic noted that Radev's visit comes at a very important time for Montenegro, in addition to the upcoming Bulgarian EU Presidency. He noted that the visit allowed him to express his gratitude for Bulgaria's overall support for Montenegro's NATO accession and the support which will be rendered for its European integration. The Montenegrin head of State expressed satisfaction that the Western Balkans will be a priority during the upcoming Bulgarian EU Presidency in 2018.

Earlier in the day Radev conferred with Montenegro's Prime Minister Dusko Markovic and Parliament President Ivan Brajovic and discussed the perspectives for developing bilateral economic relations, trade and investment cooperation, the President's Press Secretariat reported.