News

On 23 November in Vilnius, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Audronius Ažubalis and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro Milan Roćen discussed Montenegro’s progress towards membership in the European Union and NATO. Lithuania’s foreign minister expressed the country’s support for these bids.Minister A.Ažubalis welcomed the European Commission’s recommendation to grant Montenegro the status of an EU candidate country and encouraged Montenegro to continue implementing important political and economic reforms.

“Whether the EU will open accession talks with Montenegro or not, depends only on your efforts to implement reforms that are related to the EU membership,” Minister A.Ažubalis stressed.

Head of the Lithuanian diplomacy acquainted Minister M.Roćen with the main aspects of Lithuania’s EU accession. According to Minister M.Roćen, Montenegro is very interested in Lithuania’s suggestion to share its experience of integration into the EU and NATO.

The Ministers also discussed bilateral relations, the strengthening of economic relations, priorities of Lithuania’s chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), cooperation within international organizations, the situation in the Western Balkans, Montenegro’s relations with neighboring countries, and possibilities for strengthening regional cooperation.

Minister M.Roćen invited Lithuanian tourists and investors to discover Montenegro.

During the meeting, foreign minister of Lithuania and Montenegro signed a cooperation protocol that provides for regular consultations of the ministries on the issues of mutual interest, cooperation within international organizations and exchange of trainees between the countries.

Minister A.Ažubalis congratulated Minister M.Roćen on his anniversary, gave him a Lithuanian basketball team t-shirt as a gift and invited to come and watch the European Men Basketball Championship in Lithuania in 2011. Montenegro’s national basketball team will also play in the Eurobasket 2011.

Minister M.Roćen is paying an official visit to Lithuania. This is the first official visit from Montenegro to Lithuania after the declaration of the country’s independence in 2006. Lithuania recognized the independence of Montenegro on 22 June 2006. Diplomatic relations were established between the countries on 18 July of the same year.