PRESIDENT OF MONTENEGRO, MILO DJUKANOVIC, VISITS SLOVENIA

Ljubljana, 22 June 1999



Talks with President Djukanovic and President Clinton focused on the situation in Yugoslavia following the termination of NATO activity, i.e. following Milosevic's acceptance of the conditions laid down by NATO and the G8 nations, said President Kucan at a press conference on the Clinton-Djukanovic-Kucan-Drnovsek meeting held at Brdo near Kranj. The meeting took place during President Clinton's official visit to Slovenia, where President Kucan also invited the President of Montenegro, Milo Djukanovic, on President Clinton's proposal. "The international community and the United States see the difference between Belgrade's policy and the views of Podgorica. One of the ways of strengthening this differentiation is economic assistance to the development of Montenegro," President Kucan added.

President Kucan also held a separate meeting with President Djukanovic. In a statement following their talks, Kucan welcomed Montenegro's efforts for the securing of democratic processes within Yugoslavia. In President Kucan's view, Montenegro is proof of the fact that there is an alternative under the same constitutional order in the same state. That is why Montenegro's endeavours deserve support, the President added. A state that builds its future on the foundations of democracy, the rule of human rights, a free market and on openness can count on the support and understanding of the international community and especially of the USA. That was also one of the messages of President Clinton's visit to Slovenia. President Kucan underlined that it is up to each country to decide on its own future and the on future of its younger generations. Due to Slobodan Milosevic's regime, Montenegro's youth has already been deprived of ten years of their lives and they are not prepared to lose another ten, emphasised President Kucan.