CROATIAN, MONTENEGRIN PRESIDENTS ADVOCATE COOPERATION

KOTOR, Aug 22 (Hina) - Croatian and Montenegrin Presidents Stjepan Mesic and Filip Vujanovic advocated in Kotor on Friday a stronger bilateral cooperation, which they said would benefit the development of the two countries and facilitate their admission to the European Union. #L# "Europe is uniting and we must be part of a united Europe which will open its borders and which will not separate people," Mesic told reporters in Kotor. He added that "there is no room for war as a political means in a united Europe", regardless of who the warring parties were. "If we cooperate in the region, we will be better, acceptable partners for those who are a little ahead of us," Mesic said. The Croatian president arrived in Montenegro after a visit to the southernmost Croatian peninsula of Prevlaka. He was welcomed by his Montenegrin counterpart Filip Vujanovic and Premier Milo Djukanovic. Vujanovic advocated setting up a joint council consisting of prominent public figures from both countries, which would promote bilateral cooperation. "There are no open questions between Croatia and Montenegro, there is only room for cooperation," Vujanovic said. The two presidents, who met at the border crossing of Konfin, agreed that the infrastructure at Konfin, as well as roads connecting the two countries, should be improved. Mesic advocated the countries' joint appearance on third markets as tourism-oriented countries. Asked about the position of Croats in Montenegro, Mesic said he had not received any complaints from Montenegrin Croats, which meant that the issue was relatively well regulated. Premier Djukanovic said that Mesic was the first Croatian president to visit Montenegro. Mesic's visit is covered by about 100 Montenegrin and 20 Croatian reporters. After a tour of Kotor, Mesic and his hosts will visit the island of Our Lady of the Rocks. Before he returns to Croatia, Mesic will meet representatives of Montenegrin Croat associations. (hina) rml