Today, this Friday July 11, 2008, took place at the Presidential Palace in Vilnius, Lithuania, an official ceremony during which H.E. Mr. Milorad Ščepanovič, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Montenegro to Lithuania, presented his letters of credence to the President of the Republic, H.E. Mr. Valdas Adamkus.

President Adamkus, after welcoming H.E. Ambassador Ščepanovič and wishing him good luck and a lot of success in his work, warmly expressed that Lithuania strongly supported the aspirations of Montenegro for Euro-integration. “We assess favourably Montenegro’s efforts to carry through reforms and to achieve as much progress as possible. The implementation of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement signed by the European Union and Montenegro last year is a truly important step towards your country’s comprehensive integration into a whole and unified Europe. We firmly believe that the integration of both Western Balkans and such countries like Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova into NATO and the European Union will increase security and stability in Europe. Therefore, our experts are ready to help and assist your country on this path,” President Adamkus said.

The Head of State also noted that the Western Balkan region was an attractive place for Lithuanian investment and therefore invited to organize a Lithuanian-Montenegrin business forum where members of business communities of the two countries could establish contacts.