Cetinje, 28 November 2024 (MIA) – North Macedonia and Montenegro have exceptionally good relations and have no open issues; the political dialogue between the two countries is at the highest level and shows the mutual commitment to further strengthening cooperation, according to Presidents Gordana Siljanovska Davkova and Jakov Milatovic at a press conference in Cetinje on Thursday.

President Milatovic said the two countries shared the common goal of joining European Union.

"In 2005, Macedonia, now North Macedonia, became a candidate country for EU membership. That was four or five years before Montenegro became a candidate. Twenty years later, North Macedonia has not yet opened a single negotiation chapter, among other things, because of bilateral relations with neighboring countries," the Montenegro's head of state said.

Montenegro aspired to become the 28th member of the EU by 2028, Milatovic said, and remained a sincere friend of the European integration of North Macedonia and the entire region.

President Siljanovska Davkova, speaking about the constitutional amendments, said the state was once again facing, now at the EU's request, new constitutional amendments.

"We see a Solomonic solution leading to a win-win situation in delaying the effect of the constitutional amendments. The reason – it makes sense. Whenever you complete the EU negotiations, and when the ratification process begins and ends, constitutional amendments are regularly made. So it makes sense this constitutional change should also enter into force then, and not now, because we are record holders in constitutional amendments. In 30 years as many as 36 constitutional amendments, most often initiated by others, and not by us," the President said.

Milatovic said he was glad that, within the upcoming constitutional changes, if North Macedonia decided to make them, the Montenegrin minority would also be added. 

"For Montenegro, the constitutional recognition of the Montenegrin minority is a sign of friendship because it will additionally enable a new, broader vision and better exercise of their rights," he said.

Siljanovska Davkova said there was no problem with including Montenegrins in the Preamble and that no one objected to this because, she said, "we all remember we have been together for more than 50 years, in good times and in bad."

The two presidents agreed that bilateral cooperation was well developed, especially in the areas of defense, internal affairs and culture.

"The excellent political relations based on respect and understanding should continue with economic cooperation, because it is truly symbolic at the current scale. We need to connect infrastructurally. We need to cooperate in all areas. When I say that regional interest is most important to me, I idealistically believe that it is important to highlight that if you do not protect each other, you cannot expect protection from the outside. If you do not understand each other regionally, you cannot expect understanding from the outside," Siljanovska Davkova said.

Milatovic added that he was particularly pleased with the appointment of Radmila Shekerinska, former Minister of Defense, as Deputy Secretary General of NATO. This, he said, was a great recognition for North Macedonia and the entire region.

"We are confident that with her in that high post, we will contribute even more effectively to strengthening regional stability," the Montenegrin President said.

After the joint press conference, the two presidents planted a friendship tree sapling in the courtyard of the residence of the President of Montenegro. mr/