Minister of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro Milan Roćen received today the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Norway to Montenegro, Haakon Bankenborg. In an open and friendly conversation, the collocutors expressed their expectations for the improvement of the overall cooperation, especially in the field of economy. Ambassador Blankenborg said that the first visit of Minister Roćen to Norway planned for later this year will provide additional impetus to this matter. He commended the progress of Montenegro and said that Montenegrin diplomacy can serve as an example for the region in terms of choosing the ways of and achieving strategic foreign policy goals.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Milar Roćen will sign the Integrated UN Programme for Montenegro for the period 2010–2015 with the UN Resident Coordinator in Montenegro, Alexander Avanessov.

The ceremony will take place in Villa “Gorica” at 5 pm, after which Minister Roćen and Mr Avanessov will make statements for the press.

Accreditations for recording the meeting and the statements will be managed by the Bureau for Public Relations. The phone number is 482–848.

Meeting Roćen – Hague (Sarajevo, June 2, 2010)

During his stay in Sarajevo for the EU-Western Balkans Meeting, Minister of Foreign Affairs Milan Roćen had a separate meeting with the newly appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United Kingdom, William Hague.

Minister Hague congratulated Montenegro on its progress in the process of European integrations and underlined the importance of Montenegro’s role in the region. He said that Montenegro can continue to rely on London’s support, as well as the other countries of the region. Also, he confirmed the commitment of his country to the Enlargement Policy of the EU for the Western Balkans.

Mr. Chairman,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

I would like to warmly greet you on behalf of Montenegro. This is a great day for the Western Balkans, but also for the EU. I would like to thank the Spanish Presidency, the EC and all who have initiated and organized this meeting. We should give due credit to those who made an effort so that the representatives of all the countries of the Region are gathered in Sarajevo today. Recent Summit of the Western Balkans leaders at Brdo near Kranj was a good overture for this meeting. We believe the participation of the representatives of the US, Russia and Turkey shows the readiness of the EU to share the vision of the future of the Western Balkans, which is a European one, and at the same time a vision of the future of Europe itself, with the countries that can help the progress of this part of Europe. I would like to thank our friends, the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina, for the organization of the meeting.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Milan Roćen will receive tomorrow on June, 3 2010 the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Norway, Haakon Bankenborg.

The meeting will take place in the Cabinet of the Minister at 10:30 am.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Milan Roćen received a delegation of the United States Congress led by Congressman John Tanner. Other members of the delegation were Congressmen David Scott and Dennis Moore and the Secretary General of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, David Hobbs. The Ambassador of the US to Montenegro Roderick Moore also partook in the meeting.

Minister Roćen expressed content with the intensity and continuity of the bilateral cooperation in all areas between the two states. He welcomed the establishment of even closer contacts, especially in the areas of economy, tourism and infrastructure projects in Montenegro. He expressed gratitude for the legal expert assistance that the US Government provided for Montenegro in the drafting of key documents for strengthening democracy and the rule of law, which will undoubtedly contribute to the state credibility and the reforms necessary for the fulfilment of foreign policy goals.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro Milan Roćen will depart tomorrow to Sarajevo to attend the EU–Western Balkans High-Level Meeting, on the invitation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Spain, Miguel Angel Moratinos, who is currently presiding over the EU.

The meeting will gather the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the EU Member-States and the countries of the region, high representatives of the EC, but also representatives of the United States of America, Russia and Turkey. It has been announced that the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton, and the Commissioner for Enlargement, Stefan Fule, will also attend the meeting.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro Milan Roćen received today František Lipka, appointed Charge d'Affaires and the first Head of Mission of the Republic of Slovakia in Montenegro by the letter of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovakia, Miroslav Lajčák.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro was previously notified by a diplomatic note that the Republic of Slovakia has decided to open an Embassy in Podgorica.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Milan Roćen will receive on Tuesday, June 01, 2010, a delegation of the United States Congress led by Congressman John Tanner. The meeting will take place in Villa “Gorica” at 4:30 pm.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro Milan Roćen will receive on Tuesday, June 01, 2010 the Federal Minister for European and International Affairs of the Republic of Austria, Michael Spindelegger, who is in an official visit to Montenegro. The meeting will take place in Villa “Gorica” at 2:20 pm.