The leader of the Balkan country praised Turkey.

The President of Montenegro, Jakov Milatovic, expressed that Turkey appreciates its constructive role towards the Balkan states and approaches the current political issues in the region in a "constructive" manner.

Milatovic, who came to Turkey as a guest of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, spoke about Montenegro-Turkey relations.

"WE SEE TURKEY AS A STRATEGIC PARTNER"

Milatovic stated that he was pleased to be in Ankara and that his visit was a reflection of the "excellent" bilateral relations.

Recalling that this year marks the 145th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, he said, "Montenegro is a small Balkan country, but our cultural, historical, and economic relations with Turkey are intense. We see Turkey as Montenegro's strategic partner. In addition, we are NATO allies. I believe that my visit to Ankara will also be a step in the right direction to further strengthen our relations."

Milatovic expressed that the good state of bilateral relations reflects the trust and respect between the people of Montenegro and Turkey, and that this is based on historical and cultural ties.

"WE APPRECIATE TURKEY'S ROLE IN THE BALKANS"

Touching on Turkey's role in the Balkans, Milatovic said, "One aspect of our foreign policy is our good neighborly relations. These are two fundamental issues that Montenegro and Turkey work together on. We greatly appreciate Turkey's constructive role towards the Balkan states."

Milatovic noted that Montenegro joined NATO in 2017 and that one of the cornerstones of his country's foreign policy is its reliable membership within the NATO alliance.

He expressed his belief that his country is known as a good neighbor in the Balkans and that Turkey is also viewed in this way, stating, "Especially in recent years, I think Turkey's role as a reliable and good neighbor among Balkan nations has strengthened, and we greatly appreciate Turkey's role."

"TURKEY APPROACHES POLITICAL ISSUES IN THE BALKANS IN A CONSTRUCTIVE MANNER"

Milatovic stated that Turkey plays a role in the economic development of Balkan countries and referred to Turkey's investments in the region, including those in Montenegro.

"There is tremendous bilateral trade between Turkey and the region, including Montenegro, and I hope this can be further strengthened. I believe that Turkey's role, not only in Montenegro but in the Balkans in general, is perceived as a very constructive role." Milatovic expressed that Turkey approaches the current political issues in the region in a "constructive" manner.

As an example, he mentioned that Turkey approaches the issues between Serbia and Kosovo with a perspective similar to that of Montenegro and that its stance towards Bosnia and Herzegovina is the same as that of his country.

Milatovic explained that most countries in Montenegro and the Western Balkans are candidate countries for European Union (EU) membership, adding: "Montenegro is a pioneering country in this regard. When we become an EU member state, we hope that Montenegro can be the 28th member state by 2028. I also believe that this will create another opportunity to strengthen our cooperation as part of the European Union. Turkey and the European Union are among the largest trading partners, and there is a very important relationship between the European Union and Turkey, and Montenegro is naturally linked to this."

TRADE VOLUME OF 250 MILLION EUROS

Milatovic stated that Turkey is one of the largest foreign investors in Montenegro, referring to 2023 data and noting that investments have significantly increased in recent years.

He expressed that this increase shows that Montenegro has a very attractive and reliable image among Turkish investors, and he is pleased about this, adding that his visit to Turkey will also improve relations.

Milatovic mentioned that his country hosts many small companies from Turkey, explaining that there is a growing Turkish entrepreneurship in Montenegro.

At the end of the day, he stated that everything is based on trust and mutual respect, noting that the trade volume between the two countries is 250 million euros.

"MONTENEGRO IS ONE OF THE MOST VISITED COUNTRIES BY TURKS"

Milatovic emphasized that tourism is another aspect of economic cooperation, stating that his country is one of the important destinations visited by Turkish citizens.

He pointed out that Turkey is a power center in global tourism, saying, "Montenegro is one of the top 10 destinations in the world. We love to see ourselves as a jewel of the Mediterranean. Especially in recent years, the very intense connection between the two tourism sectors makes us very happy."

Milatovic noted that the good state of bilateral relations is also linked to the "good air connectivity," stating that Turkish Airlines and Air Montenegro connect the two countries.

"MONTENEGRO IS ONE OF THE FIRST EUROPEAN COUNTRIES TO RECOGNIZE ISLAM AT THE STATE LEVEL"

Milatovic referred to the cultural relations between the two countries, mentioning another interesting point that according to the 1905 constitution, Montenegro was one of the first European countries to recognize Islam at the state level.

"At that time, it was one of the religions officially recognized by the Montenegrin state; the religion of the Montenegrin kingdom was Islam. The reason I mention all this is to say that even back then, we had many beautiful things that we were willing to build upon." Milatovic pointed to the dialogue between peoples.

Milatovic stated, "Culture fundamentally means people. The Turks living in Montenegro and the Montenegrins living in Turkey are a natural bridge between these two countries."

He pointed out that Turkish series have served as successful ambassadors for cultural interaction, not only in Montenegro but worldwide, stating, "We see Turkey as a strategic partner, a reliable partner, and a friend."Elbette, mevcut HTML yapısını bozmadan metni İngilizce'ye çevirebilirim. Ancak, çevirmemi istediğiniz metni belirtmemişsiniz. Lütfen çevirmemi istediğiniz metni paylaşın, böylece size yardımcı olabilirim.