Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan is to visit Montenegro this year, the foreign minister of Turkey Mevlut Cavusoglu said after a meeting with Montenegrin counterpart Srdjan Darmanovic in Podgorica.
Replied questions of the media on current issues at the joint press conference with Foreign Minister Darmanovic of #Montenegro pic.twitter.com/WsBic4bHz8
— Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu (@MevlutCavusoglu) May 10, 2017
Cavusoglu is clear – Montenegro is a very stable country in the region and it is an ally of Turkey.
At the meeting the two ministers pointed out that the political relations between the two countries were excellent and that economic relations were improving on a daily basis.
“We have excellent political relations and economic relations are improving on a daily basis. Montenegro will become a full member of NATO soon. Turkey has expressed sincere support to Montenegro in the process. We will continue to support Montenegro after it joins the alliance as well,” Cavusoglu said, Anadolu Agency reports.
#Karadağ Dışişleri Bakanı Darmanovic ile ikili ve bölgesel konulardaki değerlendirmelerimize
heyetlerarası görüşmede devam ettik. pic.twitter.com/cjAAxUPy94— Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu (@MevlutCavusoglu) May 10, 2017
He announced that president Erdogan will visit Montenegro this year.
“We have to launch all the mechanisms to further improve our cooperation. Our companies have shown interest in the industry in Montenegro. Trade between Turkey and Montenegro is around €75m. I think this is not enough – therefore we need to increase exports, but also our production. On the other hand, there is a cultural cooperation. There is the Yunus Emre cultural centre, which successfully operates. In the same way, there are about 300 students from Montenegro in Turkey. As for TIKA, we are aware of the support it provides in Montenegro. It has allocated the most of its funds for Montenegro – about €6m,” the Turkish minister said.
He pointed out that Montenegro was a very stable country in the region.
“Montenegro is a role model country. We are pleased because of its achievements. Montenegro is our ally,” Cavusoglu said.
He added that the stability in the Balkans was not important only for the region, but also for entire Europe and Turkey.
Evaluated #Turkey – #Montenegro bilateral relations and regional cooperation issues with Foreign Minister #Darmanovic of Montenegro. pic.twitter.com/IhWvqXXnE6
— Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu (@MevlutCavusoglu) May 10, 2017
“Everyone must support the stability of the region. Last year Montenegro faced challenges… there was a coup attempt. Turkey, which experienced a similar issue, is a country that understands the situation. Therefore, Montenegro’s membership in NATO is important. Everything that happens in the Western Balkans affects Europe,” he said.
Darmanovic said that Cavusoglu’s visit was important, because it represented a step towards intensifying the political dialogue between Montenegro and Turkey.
“During the meeting, we concluded that bilateral relations between the two countries were excellent. There is a high degree of mutual understanding and a period of further strengthening of cooperation relations, particularly in the economic sphere, is to come. In this regard, a series of agreements are to be signed. Also, the Montenegrin-Turkish club in Ankara will be established. Thus, the business partnership between the two countries will be strengthened,” said Darmanovic.
He pointed out that Montenegro was very interested in attracting Turkish investments and further improving relations with Turkey in the fields of energy, tourism, agriculture and industry.
