Following is the text of Deputy Prime Minister Đurović’s address at the presentation ceremony of the special edition of postage stamp “Signing Montenegro-EU Stabilization and Association Agreement”, in Hotel “Podgorica”, Podgorica, February 1st:

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
EXCELLENCIES,
ESTEEMED COLLEAGUES,
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES,

It is my pleasure to greet all of you on behalf of the Government of Montenegro, and in my own name, and at the same time to thank you for being here today with us, on the occasion of the presentation of the special edition of postage stamp published by the Post of Montenegro, in order to, also in this way, emphasize importance of signing the Stabilization and Association Agreement between EU Member States and Montenegro (and successful start of Interim Agreement), which symbolically concluded the first phase of the European Integration process, and established the first comprehensive contracted relation between our country and the Union.

Montenegro has always been a part of the European political, cultural and economic territory. Today, Montenegro shares the goals, common values and principles of the EU. In addition to this, by signing of the Agreement, a special international honor was paid to our country, as the youngest independent and internationally recognised state, and at the same time the youngest European country — recognition and admission of its total state capacity, democratic maturity, economic stability and clear European perspective.

Stabilization and Association Agreement between Montenegro and EU symbolizes a new generation of agreements with countries from the Region, in which all binding accession criteria have been respected, but at the same time, it projects that Montenegro, as a country, is ready and capable to implement all Agreement provisions in period not longer than 5 years. It is important to point out that it is, until now, the shortest offered deadline for implementation of this kind of Treaty, which was acceptable for both treaty parties. At the same time it means that there is real estimation that Montenegro can achieve it. SAA does not mean only trade liberalization. It gradually strengthen the most various relations between economic subjects of the parties, which lead to very positive influence on: The mutual trade level, the investment volume from the EU into Montenegro, so as the new projects which open the new working places in the country.

Furthermore, it means that real estimation is that Montenegro will, in the future five years, dynamically strengthen its administrative capacities, in order to gradually adopt all European standards (by adopting new laws, strengthening institution and policy). In other words, through stabilization and association process, Montenegro will prove that it has respectful capacity of state institutions to conduct successfully process and gradually assume obligations of the future full membership.

At the same time, the other party, the European Union, by adopting the new Reform Treaty, internal consolidation and institutional reform, shows and proves that it will continue with strengthening of the “integration capacity”, to be ready, the moment when Montenegro is ready for accession, to accept Montenegro.

Having in mind that goal, SAA has specific weight and it represents for Montenegro event of historical importance and its future democratic and economic development.

Association process and, after gaining the candidate country status, EU accession process, is complex process of comprehensive changes of our society. It takes good organization of all our available resources, real projection of expectations, so as detailed planning of what is really possible to realize. We will achieve this through further strengthening of our structures for European Integration, so as through preparation of National Program for Integration of Montenegro to the EU, where more than 200 government employees and international experts have been engaged on preparation of this important document and Draft will be ready soon.

Having in mind all above mentioned, it is my opinion that the Post of Montenegro has made good decision, accepting our initiative to prepare a special edition of postage stamps dedicated to the integration process of Montenegro, in other words, to noting of all important phases on European path. It is important part of our overall communication activities in, both with our citizens and representatives of EU institutions and Member States. It is remarkable promotion of the new and European Montenegro.

We have SAA, implementation of Interim Agreement has successfully started. We are preparing ourselves for submitting of application for membership in EU and other ambitious plans of our European agenda in the coming years. We do not have doubts that the Post of Montenegro will continue to be our partner on European path. Symbolically, the Post has been our partner since 2005, when it again, after more than 90 years, in its traffic channels, introduced postage stamps which issues on its own.

I do hope that the next postage stamp of the Post of Montenegro in this European edition will be: “Montenegro candidate country for EU membership” and that it will be opportunity for one more gathering. The next phase is opening of the negotiation process on full membership, and so on, closer and closer towards realization of our strategic goal!

Montenegro towards European Union and Union in our postage stamp!
Let’s go!
Podgorica, February 1st, 2008.

Carnet from edition
“Signing Montenegro-EU Stabilization and Association Agreement”

FDC from edition
“Signing Montenegro-EU Stabilization and Association Agreement”