In a meeting with the Montenegrin Foreign Minister Srđan Darmanović, the head of Lithuania’s diplomacy underlined the importance of Montenegro’s accession to NATO.
“This is a historic achievement for Montenegro, which reflects the country’s efforts and its commitment to common values, as well as contributes to international security and regional stability,” said Linkevičius who expressed support for NATO’s further open door policy.
Lithuania’s Foreign Minister was glad that Montenegro demonstrated same determination, seeking to join the EU and offered to share Lithuania’s reform experience.
“Montenegro is a high achiever in the field of the EU integration and credible EU’s foreign policy partner that plays a stabilizing role in the region,” said Lithuania’s Foreign Minister. Linkevičius welcomed Montenegro’s full Common Foreign and Security Policy alignment.
According to the head of Lithuania’s diplomacy, the Baltic and Western Balkan states are facing similar security challenges and stressed the need to boost their resilience to hybrid threats, and to strengthen strategic communication.
In the meetings with the President of Montenegro Filip Vujanović, Prime Minister Duško Marković, Foreign Minister Srđan Darmanović, Minister of European Affairs Aleksandar Andrija Pejović, and members of the Parliament of Montenegro also discussed opportunities for strengthening bilateral relations between Lithuania and Montenegro, the situation in the Western Balkans, regional cooperation and energy security issues.
NATO’s newest member country – Montenegro – declared its independence in 2006. As a candidate country, Montenegro has made the most significant progress in its EU accession negotiations. Montenegro opened accession negotiations with the EU in 2012. It became NATO’s member country on 5 June 2017. Lithuanian institutions have implemented three EU funded Twinning projects in the fields of rural development, human resources, and audit control in Montenegro.
