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 Roćen expressed gratitude to the American people, the US Government and the Congress for their help and support and he emphasised the significance of the partnership between the two states for the successful realisation of the Euro-Atlantic integrations of Montenegro on both political and defence levels. He informed his collocutors of the activities in the current phase of the integration process – the completion of the Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP) and the commencement of the first Membership Action Plan (MAP) cycle, which is the preparation of the Annual National Programe that will be handed to NATO in Autumn of 2010.

Congressman Tanner complimented the provocative role of Montenegro in promoting the policy of good-neighbourly relations, which is recognised in international circles, as well as reformatory activities that the state has undertaken on its democratic path. He assessed as very important the reforms undertaken in the European and Euro-Atlantic integration and he emphasised that Montenegro will enjoy the continued support of the US in strengthening the democratic capacities of the society.

Congressman Tanner stressed the importance of the deepening of cooperation between the two states on all levels and he expressed hope that the time to come will bring stronger economic contacts of the two countries.

The collocutors concluded that the contacts on this level are important and that they will be affirmed in the future.