site.btaMinister Marinov Pays First Visit of Bulgarian Interior Minister to Montenegro Since 2006

120 POLITICS - INTERIOR MINISTER - MONTENEGRO - WORKING VISIT

Minister Marinov Pays First Visit of Bulgarian
Interior Minister to Montenegro
Since 2006


Podgorica, July 26 (BTA) - During a working visit to Montenegro on Friday, Bulgarian Interior Minister Mladen Marinov expressed his country's support for the European integration of Montenegro and readiness to cooperate in all matters of mutual interest. This is the first visit of a Bulgarian interior minister to Montenegro since 2006, Marinov's Ministry said in a press release.

Speaking about Montenegro's European integration, Marinov noted that every country should be assessed depending on its own achievements. Without the Western Balkan partners, European cooperation in home affairs would not be full and productive, he noted. Strengthening the cooperation between the EU and the Western Balkans in the security sector will be a main priority of the joint Berlin Process chairmanship of Bulgaria and North Macedonia in 2020, with the new activities building upon what has already been achieved within the Bulgarian EU Council Presidency.

At meetings with Montenegro's Interior Minister Mevludin Nuhodzic and Police Directorate head Veselin Veljovic, the Bulgarian delegation discussed the prospects for developing the bilateral relations. An emphasis was placed on the quick exchange of information on specific cases of mutual interest, the creation of direct contacts between the structures with similar functions, and the strengthening of cooperation in the fight against organized crime (with a focus on money laundering and counter-corruption), the countering of illegal migration, the strengthening of Montenegro's capacity, and the achievement of European standards for police cooperation.

Border control remains a key priority for the two countries. Bulgaria is ready to cooperate actively with Montenegro by sharing experience and supporting efforts on site by sending experts.

At the end of Marinov's working visit, the two sides signed an intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in disaster management, which regulates the procedures when assistance needs to be provided. The agreement supplements and builds upon the existing cooperation within the EU Civil Protection Mechanism and the Disaster Preparedness and Prevention Initiative for South Eastern Europe (DPPI SEE).

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