10 May 2017•Update: 10 May 2017
PODGORICA, Montenegro
Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu Wednesday said that the security of the Western Balkans is ‘extremely important’ for Europe’s security.
He was addressing a joint press conference with his Montenegrin counterpart Srdjan Darmanovic on Wednesday in Podgorica.
"We welcome Montenegro's valuable contribution to the Western Balkans as an exemplary country," said Cavusoglu, adding: "We all need to support security of Western Balkans."
Cavusoglu described Montenegro as a ‘friendly country with excellent political relations with Turkey’.
He added that Turkey and European countries need to positively contribute to the Balkans, as he reminded that Montenegro would soon be a NATO ally.
Cavusoglu also mentioned that trade volume between Turkey and Montenegro is around $75 million, which he said is "way below the capacity of the two countries."
"We need to increase investments mutually," he added.
On the occasion, Montenegro’s foreign minister called on Turkish businessmen to invest in Montenegro.
Later, Cavusoglu was received by Montenegrin President Filip Vujanovic and parliament spokesman Ivan Brajovic.
*Reporting by Kayhan Gul; Writing by Satuk Bugra Kutlugun
