Dubrovnik, (MINA) – Montenegrin President Jakov Milatovic called on the governments of Montenegro and Croatia to intensify political consultations at the highest level, in order to resolve outstanding issues between the two countries as soon as possible.

Milatovic said this following a meeting with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic on the sidelines of the Three Seas Initiative Summit in Dubrovnik.

“It is important to have meetings at the highest level between Montenegro and Croatia, especially in this final phase of Montenegro’s European integration”, Milatovic told reporters in Dubrovnik.

He stated that after the meeting he wanted to send three key messages.

“The first message is addressed to the governments of both Montenegro and Croatia, and this is also the conclusion from this meeting, to further intensify political consultations, in order to resolve certain outstanding issues as soon as possible”, said Milatovic.

His second message was directed at political actors in both Croatia and Montenegro, urging them to lower the tensions, send good neighborly messages and focus on cooperation.

“And the third message is for the citizens of both Montenegro and Croatia, our intellectuals, cultural workers and all those who are a bridge and a link between our two countries to provide additional help in order to strengthen bilateral relations and build our shared European future as soon as possible”, stated Milatovic.

When asked by a journalist whether the key to the ongoing issues lies with Zagreb or Podgorica, he replied that he does not think that the responsibility lies only on one side.

Milatovic emphasized Croatia’s support for Montenegro’s Euro-Atlantic path.

Asked about the serious accusations coming from alleged Milos Medenica against the security sector, the Government, the Prime Minister and his closest associates and ministers, Milatovic said that the root of the problem lies in a failure of the security sector, especially in the escape of Medenica.

He asked who is responsible for the fact that Medenica is not in prison, and added that until the issue of lack of accountability is resolved, Montenegro will not be able to take a significant step forward in terms of the rule of law.