Turkey has supported and will continue to support Montenegro’s membership to the EU with all available means. Our wish is for Montenegro, a state that is the factor of peace and stability in the region, to become an EU member state in the shortest time possible, said in an interview with the Dan daily Ms Songül Ozan, the Turkish Ambassador to Podgorica.
- Key moments from the interview with Ms Ozan –
According to your opinion, what are bilateral relations between Montenegro and Turkey like?
Ozan: Today’s relations between Turkey and Montenegro cultivate common history, culture, and social relations. This deep friendship continued after the 2006 referendum when the Republic of Turkey recognized once more Montenegro’s independence…
Our bilateral relations always improved… and resulted in agreements which facilitated the cooperation in all areas… Our cooperation and solidarity during the pandemic are an example of a real friendship and I believe that after the pandemic we will even further improve this perfect relation.
Turkey considers Montenegro, a NATO member state, an ally that makes a valuable contribution. Turkey has from the start supported and will continue to support Montenegro’s membership to the EU with all available means. Our wish is for Montenegro, a state that is the factor of peace and stability in the region, to become an EU member state in the shortest time possible.
The new government was formed without the party that had ruled Montenegro for the past three decades. Could this be a positive impetus for strengthening cooperation between Turkey and Montenegro?
Ozan: First of all, I wish to congratulate the new parliament and the new government on their work and wish them a lot of success. After the election of the new government, our foreign ministers had their first cordial conversations over the phone. I also started visits to respected members of the new government, led by Prof. Dr. Zdravko Krivokapić. We will continue to maintain and improve our cooperation in all areas, which both countries have the political will for.
Do you think that there was any progress in improving the minority people’s status in Montenegro?
Ozan: Montenegro is an example of peaceful coexistence. Historically and geographically, Turkey is a part of the Balkans where it wants to have prosperity, lasting peace, stability, and good neighbourly relations. Preservation of the multicultural and multiethnic structure is important for Montenegro’s stability, peace, peaceful environment, prosperity, economy, and future. This contributes to permanent peace in the region. Europe and the Balkans need examples of states where different groups live peacefully and show mutual respect. In that sense, Turkey wants this inter-ethnic and inter-religious harmony that makes part of Montenegro’s heritage to be continued.
We will continue investing
Can we expect an increase of Turkish investment in Montenegro in the year ahead?
Ozan: Unfortunately, due to the epidemic, we have a very bad year all over the world in terms of economy, trade, production, revenue, finance, transport, isolation, restrictions, and investment. We have a big narrowing due to the pandemic and its impact on the global economy. I regret to state this did not bypass the friendly and allied countries of Turkey and Montenegro either.
Turkey is a G-20 member, it has a strong economy, but its challenges as well. Its economy has shown resilience to current and many global crises. We will overcome this hard period and hope for Montenegro to overcome it in the shortest time possible.
Turkish companies were steadily increasing their interest and investment in the business in Montenegro in the pre-epidemic period, and in parallel, our bilateral trade volume followed a growing-trend curve with rapid acceleration on a daily basis. I hope that this trend will restart with the economic recovery after the epidemic.
As you know, there are already very important Turkish investments here. Our prestigious companies are active. Our international brands, Ziraat Bank and Turkish Airlines, are successfully represented here. I think that the most important field of cooperation in the coming period will continue to be transport, health, tourism, and agriculture. The interest of our private sector is in the airport business. There is a mutual desire to improve our economic relations to the highest level possible. With this desire, I am sure that our post-pandemic cooperation will create new fields and new opportunities.
