Today, this Wednesday February 3rd, 2010 from 12:00pm noon, the centre-left President of the Italian Republic, H.E. Mr. Giorgio Napolitano, received at the Palazzo del Quirinale in Rome his Montenegrin counterpart, H.E. Mr. Filip Vujanović, on a two-day official visit to the Italian capital (Feb. 3-4) — the first since Montenegro became an independent State in June 2006, for a 45-minute meeting focused on Italy’s relationship with Montenegro, its support to the country’s European and Euro-Atlantic path, and various regional challenges and outstanding issues. The meeting took place in the presence of T.Exc. Mr. Vincenzo Scotti, Undersecretary of State to the Italian Ministry for Foreign Affairs, and Mr. Darko Uskoković, Montenegrin Ambassador in Rome.

Speaking at a joint press conference given by the two Heads of State in the Hall of Bronzino after their talks, Italian President Napolitano stressed the excellent relations between both countries and governments, commenting on his satisfaction with how “unprecedentedly” bilateral ties in the economic sphere were intensifying, especially in the energy sector. Reiterating the firm and full support of Italy to Montenegro’s endeavours towards joining the European Union (EU) and NATO, he nevertheless pointed out that the Union’s Member States are not expected in a short-term schedule to produce a decision on further EU enlargement, and that today’s one of the main European issues for Montenegro is to seek the full ratification of its Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with the EU — only Belgium and Greece have not yet deposited their instruments of ratification. President Napolitano concluded his declaration by expressing his deep concern, shared with his counterpart, over the “highly delicate matter” of Bosnia-and-Herzegovina and the “thorny issue” of Kosovo’s independence, being convinced that an “effective co-operation” between all the State Presidents of the Western Balkans “could however contribute to overcome these difficult situations, which concern and commit the entire international community.”

After the press conference, President Vujanović was entertained by his host to a luncheon in the loggia “Torrino” on the top of the Palazzo del Quirinale, an occasion for the Italian President to make discover to his Montenegrin counterpart the particularly fine view over the monuments of Rome, notably over the National Monument to King Victor Emmanuel II (photo) and the dome of the St. Peter’s Basilica. The official reception at the Presidential Palace ended after a military honours ceremony, at about 02:00pm.

Tomorrow, February 4 at 06:30pm, on the occasion of the XXXXIInd Anniversary of the Founding of the Christian Community of Sant’Egidio (St. Giles), President Filip Vujanović will attend the Eucharistic celebration presided by H.Em. Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, President of the Italian Episcopal Conference (CEI), to be held in the Papal Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome. Will be also present H.E. Mr. Antun Sbutega, GCDO, Ambassador of Montenegro to the Holy See and the Sovereign Military Order of Malta.