The Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, Prof. Dr Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic is in official visit to Montenegro at the invitation of the Montenegrin Assembly Speaker Ranko Krivokapic. In addition to the NARS Speaker the delegation comprises Dragoslav Bozovic, President of the Serbia-Montenegro Parliamentary Friendship Group at the National Assembly and Veljko Odalovic, NARS Secretary General.

The NARS Speaker emphasised her pleasure at the meeting which she hopes will lend new impulse to the parliamentary cooperation between Serbia and Montenegro. In light of it she underlined the need to intensify the cooperation between assembly committees, as well as Serbia-Montenegro friendship groups which will undoubtedly open the door to substantial cooperation between the two parliaments.

The Assembly Speaker stressed that since Serbs are an autochthonous people in Montenegro they have the right to use the Serbian language.

Both sides noted that the two parliaments should have a more important role both on the bilateral plane, and in the region as a whole. Djukic-Dejanovic stated that Serbia and Montenegro share a significant number of identical goals and interests, particularly the interest to see the Balkan region as an example of cooperation, stability and economic prosperity, adding that the parliaments should play an important role in the process. “We have not analysed the past, confident that the present and future are far more important for the citizens of Serbia and Montenegro”, stated the Speaker at the press conference.

The NARS Speaker stressed that it would be very important for the two parliaments to establish cooperation on the international scene as well, for example in the Inter-Parliamentary Union, as well as various regional gatherings.

Mutual support in the Eurointegration process was emphasised as undoubtedly useful.

The NARS Speaker expressed pleasure at the excellent military and cultural cooperation carried out according to the already reached agreements. She also highlighted the importance of reaching an agreement on double citizenship, adding that the current holdup in the talks would soon be overcome. The Serbian side also expressed pleasure at the regional ministers of interior reaching an agreement on the fight against crime and the beginning of its implementation in practice.