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Slovenia lauds Montenegro's progress on its path to EU and NATO

Xinhua, December 13, 2016 Adjust font size:

Slovenian President Borut Pahor praised Montenegro's "exemplary" progress on its path to NATO and EU membership when he hosted the visiting Montenegrin counterpart Filip Vujanovic on Monday.

The two presidents addressed the press in Ljubljana after agreements were signed on cooperation in culture and education and a programme of international development aid for 2016-2017, which marks their further boost bilateral ties, according to the Slovenian Press Agency (STA).

Pahor praised Montenegro as a role model, a reference point in the Western Balkans in terms of NATO and EU enlargement, expressing Slovenia's support and hope that the process ends with Montenegro's membership of both.

"This would dispel the doubts, present both in the EU and NATO, concerning the benefits and success of enlargement," Pahor said.

While answering questions from the press about whether it was really necessary, given the complex international situation, for Montenegro to join NATO and take sides, Vujanovic said that NATO membership was Montenegro's strategic interest, but this interest was not directed against anyone.

He said Montenegro wished to honour its traditional friendship with Russia while simultaneously exercising its sovereign right to join NATO, which it also belongs to logically given its geographical location.

Pahor received Vujanovic with military honours and the two presidents unveiled a bench of friendship next to a monument dedicated to Montenegrin ruler and poet Petar II Petrovic Njegos (1813-1851). Endit