Pristina, 14 April 2023
Dear Prime Minister in office of Montenegro, Mr. Dritan Abazović,
Dear Media,
Dear citizens,
Today I had the pleasure of welcoming to the meeting Prime Minister in office of Montenegro together with his delegation consisting of ministers, deputies and mayors of municipalities with whom we talked about the good neighboring relations with our two countries. The opportunities of growth of cooperation in the field of economy and the investments in common infrastructure which increases the mobility and opens the opportunities of development for our two countries were in focus of this cooperation.
Montenegro recognized Kosovo’s independence since the year of the declaration in 2008, and today we work closely as two neighboring countries to promote peace, security and prosperity in our region. Beyond good interstate relations we have also built good interpersonal relations.
We are grateful that since the most difficult times, Montenegro became a rescue center for more than 100 thousand citizens of Kosovo who were evicted by the campaign of genocide and ethnical cleansing by the Milosevic’s regime during the year 1998-1999. Many cities like Rozhaja, Ulqini, Plava and Gucia, opened their doors and hears and took care by sheltering in their homes and in the tents that were raised there, refugees from Kosovo. The state and citizens of Kosovo are grateful and will never forget the hospitality and solidarity.
Today, the citizens of Kosovo are not only visitors and tourists in the coast of the cities of Montenegro but also important investors who contribute to the economic relationship between our two countries.
In the last year we have increase of trade exchange with Montenegro. Compared to year 2021 in year 2022, exports of Kosovo to Montenegro have increased by 55%. In year 2022 more than half a million enter-exit of citizens have been registered at the border points with Montenegro. Naturally, without counting here the entries through Albania, where it is known that a good part of citizens before coming to Montenegro go through Albania.
We also talked about the regional cooperation, the importance that this cooperation has for the integration of our economies, bringing citizens closer and the acceleration of integration in the European Union.
We are happy with the fact that Montenegro has ratified three agreements of mobility in the Common Regional Market within the Process of Berlin.
The rules of the European Union, the advancement of democracy and the rule of law and the strengthening of the trans-Atlantic alliance are a position, purpose and commitment of the Republic of Kosovo in regional cooperation.
We talked about common projects such as:
-The facilitation of the border crossings for citizens of the Republic of Kosovo during the touristic season;
-Finalization of the protocol for the circulation of the transport of goods and citizens, as well as;
-The dynamism of the implementation of the cooperation agreement for the construction of Decan-Plave and Peje-Rozhaje roads.
Of particular importance today is naturally the signature of the Agreement for Air Services between the Government of the Republic of Kosovo and the Government of Montenegro. This is a step as important as it is necessary for airspace regulation between our two Republics.
The agreement that we signed today offers new development opportunities of the Civil Aviation, enables the shortening of the airways and the flight time for 15 minutes. An airway company which has flown four times per day, with this agreement can easily add one more flight. Then, it decreases the emission of harmful gasses as well as decreases the cost of flights which affect the tickets price for travelers.
Until now the existing hallways between Montenegro and Kosovo were used only for the military flights of NATO, meanwhile the commercial flights could not be realized. As two signing countries of the agreement for the Common European Space of Aviation – CESA, with the agreement that we signed today the opportunity for the use of freedoms for our airway companies opens. Therefore, from here congratulations for all citizens of our two countries!
This agreement is also in the continuous work of our institutions for the normalization and execution of complete airway sovereignty over the territory of the Republic of Kosovo.
Thank you, now it is my honor and pleasure to pass the word to Prime Minister Dritan.
Last modified: April 14, 2023