Prague, July 2 (CTK) – The Czech Republic will be striving for Montenegro to receive an invitation to NATO this year, Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka (Social Democrats, CSSD) said after a meeting with his Montenegrin counterpart Milo Dukanovic Thursday.
Sobotka said Montenegro should be the first new country to join NATO. He also said he regretted that NATO had not yet decided on Montenegro’s accession.
“It is possible that Montenegro will receive an invitation by the end of the year. Czech diplomacy will be tabling this issue,” Sobotka said.
Dukanovic thanked the Czech Republic for support.
The creation of a “stability zone” in the traditionally turbulent Western Balkans is important for Europe, among others, because of the inflow of immigrants using the Balkan route, Dukanovic said.
Both prime ministers also discussed economic cooperation.
Dukanovic pointed out that energy industry, transport and tourism had been selected as major cooperation areas in the past.
“Bilateral trade turnover has tripled in the past five years,” Sobotka said.
Czech firms participate in the construction of two small water power plants in Montenegro. Skoda Praha recently won a tender for supplying the second block of the thermal power plant in Pljevlje for 350 million euros.
Dukanovic told reporters that Montenegro would sign a contract with Skoda Praha in late July.
He added that he had talked with Sobotka about the projects to modernise railways in Montenegro and repairs of the railway station in Podgorica.
The prime ministers also touched upon tourism.
“We are trying to improve conditions to facilitate the arrival of Czech tourists,” Dukanovic said.
Some 50,000 Czechs annually visit Montenegro, Sobotka added.
Dukanovic will attend a seminar on business and investment opportunities in Montenegro held at the Industry and Trade Ministry in Prague.
“Montenegro is ready and at the moment, it is the main candidate for entry to NATO,” Stech said.
“Nevertheless, is has an approach similar to that the Czech Republic has to entering the euro zone,” he added.
“This is no speed race as one has to fulfil all the criteria thoroughly and well,” Stech said.
Dukanovic stressed that within the region, Montenegro concentrated on its stability.
