WORLD NEWS FOR MONTENEGRO DIASPORA
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AUTHOR:M.J. GDNUS
Montenegro, as a leader in the European integration process and a responsible member of NATO, supports Ukraine's aspirations to join the European Union (EU) and the Alliance, said State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), Periša Kastratović.
As announced by the MFA, Kastratović participated in the ministerial meeting "Ukraine-Southeast Europe" in Kiev, at the invitation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andriy Sibiha.
Kastratović, as reported, pointed to the political, military, humanitarian and financial assistance that Montenegro continuously provides to Ukraine in dealing with the consequences of aggression, both bilaterally and through numerous multilateral mechanisms.
He recalled that Montenegro has adopted all packages of restrictive measures that the EU has introduced against Russia, fully aligning itself with the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy.
"Montenegro, as a leader in the European integration process and a responsible member of NATO, strongly supports Ukraine's aspirations to join the EU and the Alliance, which further strengthens existing ties and establishes interstate friendship," said Kastratović.
As announced by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as part of the ministerial meeting program, meetings were organized with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Prime Minister Denis Shmyhal, Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada Ruslan Stefanchuk and Minister of Defense Rustem Umerov.
"Ukrainian officials expressed gratitude to the countries of Southeast Europe for their support in defending Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity, based on the principles of international law," the statement said.
As added, the participants' addresses emphasized that the Russian aggression against Ukraine is not only an attack on a sovereign state, a member of the United Nations, but also an attack on the values of democracy, an attempt to undermine the global order based on law and the right to self-determination.
"Therefore, support for Ukraine represents consistency in defending the fundamental postulates of the UN Charter," the participants said.
As announced, at the plenary meeting hosted by the head of Ukrainian diplomacy Sibiha, officials from Southeast European countries informed about the activities undertaken in the past almost three years to strengthen Ukraine's position in repelling Russian military aggression.
"It was noted that Ukraine's European and Euro-Atlantic perspective remains the optimal framework for its reconstruction after the establishment of peace and stability within internationally recognized borders," the statement said.
It was concluded that a free, prosperous and peaceful Ukraine represents the cornerstone of a free, peaceful and prosperous Europe.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Kastratović, during his stay in Kiev, along with other senior officials, laid a wreath at the Wall of Remembrance for War Victims.
The participants of the ministerial meeting also adopted a Joint Statement, and the visit was an opportunity for representatives of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the countries of Southeast Europe to get acquainted with the latest technological achievements of the Ukrainian military industry, developed for the purpose of deterrence and defense against Russian military aggression.
In addition to Montenegro, representatives of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Greece, Croatia, Moldova, Romania, North Macedonia, Slovenia, Serbia and Turkey also participated.
