ZAGREB ZAGREB, April 15 (Hina) - The Croatian-Montenegrin Friendship Council offers a new type of communication not only between Montenegro and Croatia, but between all countries in the region which needs friendship, cooperation and
mutual understanding, Montenegrin President Filip Vujanovic said in Zagreb on Thursday.
ZAGREB, April 15 (Hina) - The Croatian-Montenegrin Friendship Council
offers a new type of communication not only between Montenegro and
Croatia, but between all countries in the region which needs
friendship, cooperation and mutual understanding, Montenegrin
President Filip Vujanovic said in Zagreb on Thursday.#L#
The Montenegrin president made this statement at a news conference
which he addressed with Croatian President Stjepan Mesic after the two
heads of state met members of the council, which was established
today.
The initiative to establish the council was launched by Mesic and
Vujanovic last year. Some 20 prominent figures from the countries'
cultural, scientific and economic life, who attended the council's
founding session at Zagreb's Sheraton hotel, elected film director
Veljko Bulajic chairman of the Council.
"We want to open the borders as much as possible to enable artists and
athletes, as well as business subjects from both countries to
cooperate," Mesic said.
The two presidents also spoke about the importance of the
Adriatic-Ionian highway.
"That road will link the Middle East with Western Europe via our
territory and it is in the interest of our countries to make the EU
interested in participating in its construction. This will activate
our human and business resources as well as contribute to our own
development through the opening of new markets," Mesic said.
Vujanovic said that Croatia and Montenegro had to cooperate and
develop friendship because they were bound to it by common goals, such
as integration in the EU.
Asked to comment on the latest negative reactions of the international
community to a referendum on Montenegro's independence, Vujanovic said
it was the obligation of Montenegro to enable its citizens to vote
about their future.
Without dramatising the referendum or attaching historical importance
to it, Montenegrins should decide whether they want to live in a union
with Serbia or in an independent state, he said.
(Hina) rml sb