Montenegro’s President, Mr Milo Đukanović, is taking part in the EU-Western Balkans Zagreb Summit which is taking place in the format of video conference. Mr Đukanović’s message today was clear – we must no leave Balkans to third parties, as it is living European tissue.
“We have been hearing a lot that the world won’t be the same after coronavirus. Let’s do our best to make it better. Europe must preserve values of western democracy, liberal society, freedoms and human rights, market economy… our message is: We must not leave Balkans to third parties as it is living European tissue. That means that region countries must strengthen resistance to offers that are trying to undermine European values and unity. We want to preserve this type of dialogue and make WB part of the European recovery plan”, Mr Đukanović said.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4nyK-neVVI
Mr Đukanović thanked Croatia for demonstrating leadership at European level despite extraordinary circumstances.
European solidarity
Mr Đukanović added that support and assistance of the EU proved that European solidarity hadn’t stopped at its borders.
In Mr Đukanović’ s opinion, Montenegro has reinforced stability and trust in its own capacities. Institutions, healthcare system and Montenegrin citizens have demonstrated vitality, responsibility, and competence. It has been confirmed that the European path of reconstruction since renewal of independence wasn’t in vain.
“We won’t stop here. We are committed to building open European society of democracy and rule of law. We are focused on economic recovery and dynamic development. Green economy, digital transformation and diversification remain guiding principle to our strategic goal: achieving European quality of life of our citizens”, President says.
Absolute priority
Mr Đukanović pointed out that it was time for geo-political positioning of the EU at global stage. The path to that is reinforcing stability and mobilization of all European development resources. That imperatively means completion of the EU accession process.
“We in the WB are aware that our EU membership has sense if it makes contribution to new quality and global competitiveness of Europe”, Mr Đukanović pointed out.
Invest more in science and health
President says that Europeanization process of the WB can be encouraged by high-quality infrastructure connection with the EU, through comprehensive and precisely focused investment strategic framework.
“It is necessary to help our region to ground its further social development on science, high technologies and innovation. That way, we are going to accelerate the process of coming out of the backwardness generated by instability, keep young and educated people and improve our citizens’ health. The current crisis has warned us that we must invest more in health and science”, Mr Đukanović said.
