Branko Lukovac, Ambassador of Montenegro
Five Stars Zagreb Issue 26 — September 15, 2008.

It was only a bit more than a year when the first Embassy of Montenegro, as the youngest independent state and member of UN, was officialy inaugurated in Zagreb, on 10th of May 2007. Only a year before, on 21. of May 2006. the citizens of Montenegro decided, on the Referendum, to renew its almost a millenium old state and independence and to join, though with 15 years of delay compared to the Republic of Croatia, the international community, new relations with neighbours and other states and integration processes in an equal way, as sovereign state.

Therefore, as the first ambassador of Montenegro to the Republic of Croatia, I experience Zagreb and Croatia with these special feelings, as someone who got a mission and honour to participate in building of foundations of new relations of our peoples and states. Croatia is the nearest and most developed among the neighbours of Montenegro, with whom we share a millenium long history and the heritage of civilizations. Croatia is a neighbour with whom we also have to overcome some unfortunate pages of our recent past. And Croatia is a neighbour with whom we share a vision of future european values and of belonging to a community of developed european countries.

In a short time span from the establishment of the Embassy of Montenegro in Zagreb, as well as of the Embassy of the Republic of Croatia in Podgorica, the relations of our two countries have developed rapidly and profoundly in almost all areas. As they are based on a very solid foundations of mutual understanding, respect and good neighbourhood, one can expect that months and years ahead will bring about further expansion and deepening of relations on the level of citizens, cultures, bussinesses, as well as wth cooperation in regional and wider frameworks.

Even nowadays an increasing number of tourists that are visiting Croatia, and in particular the Riviera of Dubrovnik, also join the groups visiting Montenegro. This works both ways: more and more tourists from Montenegro are visiting the coast of Croatia. Visa-free regime as well as improved communications, including direct air-link Zagreb-Podgorica, thanks to Croatia Airlines, additionaly encourages more intensive flow of persons, goods, services and even investments on both sides. It is illustrative to add that civil engineering companies from Croatia are among the top companies building infrastructure projects in Montenegro and have occupied pretty good starting position in the eve of a new huge investment wave in Montenegro, namely: construction of two highways - North-South of the country and Adriatic-Ionian highways; several big projects for the generation of electric energy; as well as new green field investments in tourism. A very important dimension of our relations are minorities in both countries, those with an origin in Montenegro, here in Croatia, and Croatian in Montenegro. They are enjoying improved and equal status and are playing a very positive role in mutual understanding and cooperation.

This is to say that the beginnings of  new relations between Montenegro and Croatia are very good and promising when we speak of their prospects and future, as this reflects the interest of our peoples as well as those of peace, stability and cooperation in the region.

Personaly, I have had many opportunities to visit Zagreb in the previous decades. But it was always for a short time, to take part in meetings. Now it is different and I have an opportunity to better get to know Zagreb. I like this city very much. I am impressed that it is so green with so many nice, well aranged and maintained parks, with rich and harmonious architecture and urban development, with a down town full of nice squares, places for gethering of citizens that very much like to get together in caffees or for a promenade. Here the trams are demonstrating huge advantages over other means of mass transportation like buses, as is often the case in big cities. Zagreb has such a rich cultural life, with so many theaters, concert halls, performances in parks and city squares, with such a variety of good restaurants and a variety of first class cuisine. It has excellent links with the spectacular coast and islands, with the north as well as the east of the country.

Finally,  I wish to add something from this short experience as a diplomat in Zagreb and Croatia, but with a long diplomatic experience in several countries. We the diplomats are very privileged here in Croatia and Zagreb. The host country and city are very keen to make our stay  and work in this uniquely beautiful country as pleasent as possible and are organizing often visits to many distinguished places in Croatia. We all, indeed, are very grateful for such an attitude, efforts, values that we get, and for the overall impressions. In this respect, Zagreb and Croatia and the state institutions of Croatia,  should be seen as a very positive, exceptionaly good example to be followed elsewhere. I wish this beautiful, pleasent, warm and friendly city and this country, every success in the efforts to further develop, to achieve best world standards and to become a member of EU.