"Montenegro is leader, NATO candidate No. 1"

Source: Tanjug

PODGORICA -- Montenegro is the number one candidate for membership in NATO, U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar said as he met with Milo Đukanović, the Montenegrin government announced.

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According to the statement, Lugar also pointed out that the country's "leadership role in the Western Balkans is recognized worldwide."
Lugar is in Montenegro at the invitation of the U.S.-Montenegro Business Council, and of the main investor in the new project at Zavala in Budva.

He said that Montenegro had "already done much to promote the rule of law and good neighborly relations."

Prime Minister Đukanović, as stated, expressed his gratitude for the efforts of the U.S: senator and his support for his and other countries of the Western Balkans.

"Montenegro has, thanks among other things to the valuable support, managed to preserve stability and multi-ethnic harmony, and to become a promoter of Euro-Atlantic values ​​in the Balkans and an active participant in regional cooperation," he said.

Đukanović informed Lugar about the priorities of his government, which, he pointed out, were the concept of economic development and a dynamic realization of the strategic foreign policy goal to join NATO and the EU.