Foreign Investment leader Montenegro Prime Minister Dukanovic to EuroFora: EU Quality before Speed

Long-time Prime Minister (1991-1998 and 2008 - 2014) and former President (1998-2002) of Montenegro, Milo Dukanovic, replying to "EuroFora"s questions at the CoE in Strasbourg, stressed that "Qu    ality before Speed", is the Strategic aim of the EU Accession proces, which might start in 2010 and complete in the next few years, for the small but Strategically located, more Peaceful Country at the former Yugoslavian Region, whose Stability and Economy is one of the Brightest, and beneficial to the surrounding Western Balkans' European integration developments.
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"EuroFora"s 1st out of 2 Questions was exceptionaly an "open" one :  - "If everything goes well, when do you hope that your Country will become EU Member ?", we simply asked Montenegro's Prime Minister.

    - "Our Plan is to meet expectations under a European Union Agenda", Dukanovic willingly admitted, "but we don't set any Time-Frames", he carefully stressed.

    - Because "we are sincerely guided by the Principle : "Quality before Speed", underlined Montenegro's Prime Minister, who also Chairs this Year (2010) the Central European, the South-East, and the Adriatic - Ionian Seas' EU Initiatives.

    - "We want to be part of the EU. But this is not our goal in itself. We want to make sure that in Montenegro we have a Quality of Life fit for European Citizens of 21st Century", he said.

 - "That's why we are primarily devoted to Reforms. Because Reforms ...enhance Quality of Life, and also lead to EU Membership", Dukanovic observed.

    -  In fact, "the actual (partial) goal that we Now have is to get this Year (2010) a(n EU) Candidate Status, and a Recommendation to start Accession Negotiations. We think that this role is absolutely Realistic", Montenegro's Prime Minister estimated.

 In other words, Dukanovic, (as he added later in Strasbourg) would like to avoid a situation similar to FYROM's, who hurried up to become EU Candidate, but hasn't yet got a Date for EU Accession Negotiations, (mainly due to the pertaining lack of a Solution to the issue of the Name "Macedonia" which is traditional also in Greece's Millenary History, so that an intelligent and adequate compromise has still yet to be found in order to allow an otherwise Friendly and mutually Beneficial Regional Cooperation in the framework of a Stable EU Integration).

        - "We also think that it is possible for Montenegro, within the Next Several Years, to succesfully complete Negotiations with the EU", carefully but Optimistically concluded in his Reply to "EuroFora"s 1st Question Dukanovic.

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     - Meanwhile, "on Economy, are there any important Projects on Infrastructures, f.ex. Sea Transports, Gas, etc, currently prepared ?", asked "EuroFora"'s 2nd Question the Prime Minister of Montenegro, (which is well known, not only for its Natural Landscapes, but also as Danube Riverside Serbia's outlet to the Adriatic Sea).

    - "The main Opportunities for Montenegro's Development in the Period Ahead are precisely what You have mentioned : These are Infrastructures, Energy, and, in addition, Tourism", the Country's experienced long-time Political Leader replied to "EuroFora".                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

    - "There is a Huge Interest from the part of Foreign Investors. The main foreign Investors come from the EU. During recent Years, Montenegro has been the Leader in Europe in terms of Foreign Investment per capita. This was so even in the Last Year (2009). And 80% of Foreign Direct Investments in Montenegro have been investments from the EU"

    - This is partly due also to the fact that Montenegro has already introduced, and will continue its Pioneer, Voluntary use of Euro € as Currency, despite problems and "hard Reforms" needed for that, considering that "National Debt was "only 36% of the GDP", i.e. "much lower than in some EuroZone Member Countries".. Meanwhile, Montenegro's Citizens have just got a "Visa-Free travel to Shengen Zone (EU) Countries" since December 2009, he added afterwards at CoE's Assembly,

 - "I' m sure that Montenegro will complete its commitments to the CoE and  then start fullfiling the conditions also for the EU", Djukanovic also stressed. And he explained that there is a close Link between certain Reforms, such as those required in order to fight efficiently against Corruption, (still widespread accross the whole South-Eastern area, particularly after the Econoimic Destructions provoked by the War iin the former Yugoslavian area in the recent Past), and Boosting the Judiciary, Rule of Law, etc,  (thanks also to a close cooperation with Venice Commission), as means to win, develop and safeguard IForeign Investors' remarquable "Trust".
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        As for Refugees/Displaced Person's Rights to Return and have their Homes Restored, (a wide-pread problem in South Eastern European, i.e. Balkan neighbouring Countries, as well as in the Caucasus, Turkey, occupied territories of Cyprus, etc), Montenegro's situation is, compared to others, so "Positive", that it has exactly the .. Opposite problem :

- Instead of delays to accept  Refugees/IDP's return, as it's more or less the case  elsewhere, (with the sole Exception of Turkish- Occupied Territories of Cyprus, where Ankara still refuses even to admit the Principle of Greek Cypriot Refugees/IDP's return),  on the Contrary, Montenegro is ... eager to accelerate the Return Home of numerous Refugees, from various other States of the Region, who have seeked an Asylum in that Country, because it remained always in Peace, without any violent conflict, as its President, Dukanovic, observed, launching a "Call" to all those involved and to the International Community to help Refugees' Return to their Homelannds asap...

That's one of the reasons for which Montenegro has a genuine Interest for Development and Stability in its  Neighbouring Countries accross the whole Region :
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- Montenegro's reforms "contributed  also to developments in the Region, and, therefore to  European Integration", praised, indeed, the Country, CoE's Secretary General Thornbjorn Jagland.

    - "From the CoE side, we are very satisfied by the Cooperation with Montenegro, and will be a partner for us also for the (PanEuropean Organisation's own) reforms" in Strasbourg, Jagland observed, giving a carefully Positive mark. - "I've commented Montenegro for its achievements, in particular ratifications of many CoE Conventions, I'm aware of the fact that we have more Work to do, and that the CoE will hopefuly cooperate also in the future with Montenegro, to fullfil all its commitments and continue all the ratifications. I also thanked very much the Cooperation of Montenegro Authorities with the Venice Commission, on Amendments to the Constitutional Law, (i.e. mainly on the Judiciary, Rule of Law, etc. : See supra) that we (CoE) find very important", CoE's Head added.

However, replying to another Journalist's question, Jagland, while being clearly Positive, nevertheless, he avoided to speak in terms of race for EU Accession, between the various Western Balkan Countries :

 - "I don't want to compare Montenegro's integration to others', in the Region", he simply said.  - "But I will reiterate that we are satisfied for the way Montenegro has fullfilled its commitments. There is some more Work to do. But it's by implementing (CoE's) Convention(s) (including, naturally, the most important : That on Human Rights), that Montenegro will advance further"

 - And "it's also important for us (CoE) to see the important role Montenegro plays in the Region" of the entire Western Balkans and South East Europe :  - "It's a Stabilizing Factor, which cannot be underestimated", Jagland concluded.