First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Ivica Dacic received today an official visit from Montenegrin Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, Dr. Igor Luksic.

The two Ministers addressed the journalists after the meeting, assessing that the two countries held thoroughly different positions when it comes to the issue of dual citizenship, and that all the possibilities for reaching a compromise solution regarding the issue had been exhausted.

Minister Dacic said that it was impossible to find a compromise solution for the issue, and that Serbia continued to grant dual citizenship, unlike Montenegro, which was, according to the Minister, completely legitimate.

Explaining Montenegro's position, Minister Luksic said that the legislation of small countries was more rigid when it comes to the issue of dual citizenship.

At the same time, Ministers Dacic and Luksic assessed that the relations between the two countries were better by far when compared to their state of a few years ago, and that they should focus on searching for common interests, including European integration and economic cooperation.

The Serbian Foreign Minister said that it was important that Serbia and Montenegro were heading towards the European Union, aware of the fact this path was difficult and full of different conditionalities, various chapters, but also of the fact that it was a path to a better future.

"We are open for talks on all topics, any joint participation in the political and diplomatic map of the world", Minister Dacic said, adding that it also implied cooperation in the sectors of the economy, infrastructure, energy, transport...

Montenegrin Minister Igor Luksic stated that it was important that the relations between the two countries be deepened through concrete cooperation channels in a pragmatic way, saying that today's talks also included European integration which, according to the Minister, was extremely important for the region.

Montenegrin Minister Luksic said that he sympathized with the people of Serbia over the flood consequences, adding that he expected concrete agreements on the assistance intended for the people affected by floods at the regional ministerial meeting in Montenegro.

The two Ministers signed today the Cooperation Agreement between their respective Diplomatic Academies and the Agreement on ceding properties on a reciprocal basis for use as diplomatic and consular missions.