Bečić: Montenegro is strong, unequivocal supporter of Berlin Process

At last night’s reception at Villa “Gorica”, ahead of the interior ministers’ meeting within the framework of the Berlin Process, Deputy Prime Minister Aleksa Bečić addressed and welcomed the interior ministers and senior representatives of the Berlin Process partners staying in Montenegro.

DPM Bečić stated that numerous activities within Montenegro’s presidency of the Berlin Process are taking place following the successfully held summit of the leaders of the European Union and the Western Balkans in Tivat, which Montenegro hosted in June, adding that this was an important moment for further connecting the region and strengthening partnerships and cooperation.

“Welcome to Montenegro, which looks upon you and your citizens with friendly eyes. We are pleased to have the opportunity to host you and that Montenegro, following the major summit of the leaders of the European Union and the Western Balkans held in Tivat in June, has the privilege of chairing the Berlin Process this year and of hosting our partners this September and October.

Emphasising that Montenegro has been a strong and unequivocal supporter of the Berlin Process from the beginning, the Deputy Prime Minister said that “the choice and decision are very easy. From economic, political and cultural cooperation, the exchange of goods, people, and capital, assistance in integration processes, in the fight against crime, in a word, from mutual cooperation among the countries of the Western Balkans, we all benefit. From confrontations and divisions, we all suffer harm. So the choice is very simple“, DPM Bečić stressed.

The Deputy Prime Minister said that the region must draw lessons from the past and that the future depends on us and the decisions we make today, as partners and allies.

“That is why we should leave the past behind because we cannot change it. Our choice is to jointly shape a secure future and leave to future generations much better, stronger and more robust relations and partnerships than those we inherited because of some turbulent events in the Western Balkans several decades ago”, Bečić underlined.

Speaking about the European perspective of the region, he stressed that Montenegro is pleased with the successes of its neighbours, because European progress is not merely an individual success, but is reflected across the entire region.

“We are pleased with every success of our friends and neighbours, our partners on the European path and in every other respect. I believe that this is mutual, because both Montenegro and all our neighbours can only benefit from Montenegro’s successes on the European path and, we believe, from its soon-to-be membership in the European Union. We will be happy and fulfilled when we achieve the ultimate goal, I think it is necessary, that it is the long-term main route and that is for the entire Western Balkans to become part of the European family.”

Bečić wished the participants productive work and a pleasant stay in Montenegro, expressing hope that they will take away fond memories from, as he put it, small but wonderful Montenegro.

“I raise a toast to our cooperation, our friendship, further strengthening of relations, building bridges and a common European future”, the Deputy Prime Minister for Security, Defence, Fight against Crime and Internal Policy concluded.