Serbia wants to see Montenegro in EU as soon as possible

PODGORICA/BELGRADE Feb 18 (Tanjug) - Chairperson-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), Serbia's Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic, has said in Podgorica that as holder of the OSCE chairmanship, Serbia would like to see Montenegro become a member of the European Union as soon as possible.

According to a release from the Serbian Foreign Ministry, during his visit to Montenegro on Tuesday, Dacic met with the country's president, Filip Vujanovic, parliament speaker, Ranko Krivokapic, prime minister, Milo Djukanovic and deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs and European integration, Igor Luksic.

During his first visit to Montenegro in his capacity as OSCE chairman, Dacic voiced his full support for the reforms implemented by the Montenegrin government and commended Podgorica for the progress made in fulfilling one of the strategic objectives - Euro-Atlantic integration.

He also encouraged Montenegro take advantage of the support of the OSCE in key areas such as the rule of law, judicial reform, and the fight against corruption and organized crime and use it in the best way possible.

When it comes to the Western Balkans, which is in the focus of Serbia's OSCE chairmanship, he said that "in these times of serious challenges to the international community, it is very important to draw lessons from the past and never lose them out of sight."

The process of reconciliation and rebuilding trust is a key priority of Serbia's chairmanship, Dacic said.

"We will continue to pursue that goal, with the help and support of the (OSCE) special representative on the Western Balkans, Ambassador Gerard Stoudmann," Dacic said.

Montenegrin officials expressed their full support...