Montenegro expects Greece's further support for its EU accession: Prez Djukanovic

Athens, Feb 9 (IANS) Montenegro expects Greece's continued support for its accession to the European Union (EU), visiting Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic said in the Greek capital of Athens.

"We are taking important steps towards the European integration of our country, and we expect Greece to continue to support us," Djukanovic on Tuesday said during his meeting with his Greek counterpart, Katerina Sakellaropoulou.

"Greece believes that in times of growing global challenges, such as the period we are going through, the European perspective of the western Balkans, their full membership of the European Union, is in the political and economic interest of the European Union itself, but also an incentive for these countries to make the necessary reforms," Sakellaropoulou said.

Both leaders stressed the special significance of the Montenegrin President's two-day official visit to Athens. He is the first Montenegrin Head of State to visit Greece since 2006, when the country declared its independence and the confederation of Serbia and Montenegro peacefully dissolved, Xinhua news agency reported.

Djukanovic also talked about the EU integration when he met with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, according to the Greek national broadcaster ERT.