Podgorica, (MINA) – Montenegro is an example that the EU enlargement simultaneously strengthens both the candidate countries and the Union itself, said Montenegrin President Jakov Milatovic.

Speaking the opening of the EU Academy panel “Montenegro on the Diplomatic Chessboard”, he said that the unpredictability of the global order and wars unseen since World War II bring “the context of a chessboard, where the destinies of the small are often determined by the decisions of the big”.

Milatovic said that Montenegro’s path is clear – the EU, democracy and development.

“Montenegro can be and is an example that EU enlargement simultaneously strengthens the candidate countries and the EU”, said Milatovic.

Former Foreign Minister Midrag Lekic said that it would not be good for the country to get lost in the “march through chapters” and that it should be known where Montenegro comes from, where it is and where it is going.

‘We cannot call Russian aggression ‘aggression’, while calling 1999 NATO bombing a ‘humanitarian bombing’. It is necessary to maintain autonomy and think for ourselves”, Lekic stressed.

He argues that the Union is currently facing major challenges and that the question is if it would survive and in what form.

Lekic said that, if the condition for Montenegro to join the EU would be to give up part of its territory, he would not agree to that.

Former Foreign Affairs Minister Srdjan Darmanovic believes that the geopolitical situation is such that it presents an exceptional opportunity for Montenegro to become an EU member.

Speaking about whether the EU has the same political will to accept both Montenegro and Ukraine, Darmanovic said that Montenegro is a small country and that “its membership in the EU does not cost anyone anything”.

Another former Foreign Minister, Igor Luksic, said that Montenegro needs a change in habits and mindset.

He stressed that foreign policy alignment is “a key test of our readiness to adopt the EU’s foreign policy”.