Abazović meets with Lajčak: European government will implement reforms

The European Union should help the countries of the Western Balkans on their European path as soon as possible, especially after the events in Ukraine. I informed Mr. Lajčák that the process of forming a European government is nearing completition and I was convinced that the support for Montenegro is really strong. The European government will implement reforms in order to unblock our integration path as soon as possible, said Deputy Prime Minister Dritan Abazović at a meeting with EU Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue and other Western Balkan regional issues Miroslav Lajčák. The two officials met the day before the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, where the presidents of Turkey and Ukraine, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Volodymyr Zelenskyy, will speak, among others.

EU Special Representative Miroslav Lajčák pointed out that Brussels has high expectations from the new government and that Montenegro can count on their support. Lajčák said that he was glad that some EU countries, which have been skeptical about the issue of enlargement so far, are starting to change their position on that issue after the events in Ukraine.

Prior to the official meeting, DPM Abazović and EU Special Representative Lajčák had a tête-à-tête.

Speaking about Russia's invasion of Ukraine, DPM Abazović said that this was a brutal violation of international law and a violation of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine.

Montenegro, as a future member, follows the EU's foreign policy and joins the restrictive measures adopted by the EU against the Russian Federation. Our intention is, as a NATO member, to be an example of peace and stability in the Western Balkans, Abazović emphasised.

Deputy Prime Minister Abazović will participate in the Antalya Diplomacy Forum on 11-13 March.