FAM Miroslav Lajčák (source: SITA)
Slovak Foreign Minister, Miroslav Lajčák, officially opened Montenegro’s new Honorary Consular Office in Bratislava on January 25. The new office will be headed by Rudolf Autner.
Montenegrin Foreign Affairs Minister, Srdjan Darmanovic, who is on a two-day official visit to Slovakia, took part in the inauguration ceremony.
The two ministers concurred, as quoted by the TASR newswire, that setting up the honorary consulate in Bratislava will bring further impetus to the development of relations between the two countries. Darmanovic praised in particular the support that Montenegro has received from Slovakia in its EU-accession process and its efforts to integrate into NATO, while also highlighting the key role played by Lajčák in the critical period surrounding Montenegro’s referendum on independence in 2006.
Lajčák spoke about the high intensity and excellent quality of bilateral contacts. “Following the opening of our representative office in [Montenegro’s capital] Podgorica in 2010, we now have full representation for Montenegro in Bratislava,” said the head of Slovak diplomacy, as cited by TASR.
Slovak businesses have promising investments in the field of energy, water and transport infrastructure in Montenegro, the Foreign Ministry told TASR. Opportunities for cooperation are also available in the tourism sector and in building an information society and e-government.
Conversely, employing people from Montenegro should help the Slovak automotive sector to cover its shortage of labour.
