Montenegro optimistic about resolving bilateral issues with Croatia

Podgorica is “optimistic” that Montenegro and Croatia will resolve most bilateral issues “in the coming months”.

This was said by Montenegro’s Minister for European Affairs Maida Gorčević, CE Report quotes FENA.

Speaking at a press conference on the sidelines of the European Parliament plenary session, which adopted a positive report on her country’s progress towards EU membership, Gorčević stressed that the Croatian and Montenegrin ministries have “good communication” and that Podgorica, with the help of Croatian experts, has so far managed to close 13 chapters.

“We want to resolve all issues before joining the EU, and this is also a clear signal of how we want to address matters as a future member,” said the politician from the ruling Europe Now Movement, according to Hina.

“Communication is ongoing, and I hope that in the coming months we will resolve all issues, or at least the majority,” Gorčević said, adding that Podgorica is optimistic on this matter.

Montenegro has an ambitious plan to become the 28th member of the European Union in 2028, a goal also reiterated the previous day in the European Parliament by its President Jakov Milatović. Gorčević said that Podgorica aims to close all negotiation chapters by the end of this year.

After that stage, the ratification process will follow in the member states, including Croatia, which has a number of outstanding issues with Montenegro. Earlier this month in Tivat, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković outlined them: compensation for camp detainees and the search for 14 missing persons from the Homeland War, continued prosecution of war crimes, and the resolution of property issues affecting Croatian families who lost property in Montenegro.

The Croatian Prime Minister also raised the issue of the memorial plaque at the former Morinj camp, where Croatian prisoners of war were mistreated during the Homeland War, as well as the need to change the name of the swimming pool in Kotor, which is named after a guard from that camp.

Croatia is also seeking talks on the border, as well as the return of the training ship “Jadran,” a roughly 60-meter-long sailing vessel that was part of Croatian naval assets until 1991 but remained in Montenegro for repairs during the war and has not been returned since.

“My impression is that Montenegro is ready to seriously work” on the issues raised by Croatia, and that they are “not something unsolvable,” the Croatian Prime Minister said after meeting his Montenegrin counterpart Milojko Spajić.

Photo: Instagram/maida.gorcevic