Today, this Friday December 8, 2006, took place in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C., USA, an official ceremony during which H.E. Mr. Miodrag Vlahović, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Montenegro to the USA, presented his letters of credence to the 43rd President of the United States, H.E. Mr. George W. Bush.

After President Bush warmly welcomed the newly appointed Montenegrin Ambassador and wished him a successful mission in the United States, as for him, Ambassador Vlahović expressed his strong expectations that both countries will fortify existing friendly ties, assuring by another way the U.S. President of Montenegro’s readiness to strengthen co-operation on defence and security sector-related reform, and informing him that he will work on fostering and developing bilateral economic co-operation.

Ambassador Vlahović also conveyed to President Bush his country’s hope that the United States will go on giving political, technical and financial support to the reform processes of the entire Montenegrin society.

First Ambassador of Montenegro to the United States, H.E. Mr. Vlahović was Foreign Minister when he requested a posting to the new embassy in Washington, reflecting the importance Montenegro places on close relations with the United States. The Ambassador speaks English and Italian, and is married with three daughters.

A few days before, on December 6 at 09:00am, Ambassador Vlahović formally presented his credentials to H.E. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.