Abdullah bin Zayed, Montenegro's counterpart review bilateral ties

Podgorica: H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE Foreign Minister, met yesterday with Igor Luksic, Montenegro Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration. During the meeting, Sheikh Abdullah and Mr. Luksic reviewed ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the best interest of the two friendly countries. The two ministers also exchanged views on a broad range of issues of common interest and latest regional and international developments. At the end of the meeting, the two sides signed an agreement on mutual exemption of pre-entry visa requirement for the holders of diplomatic and special passports and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on political consultations between the two countries. Sheikh Abdullah expressed his pleasure with the growth of UAE-Montenegro relations, and his confidence that his talks with senior officials in Montenegro would further contribute to strengthening them. Speaking at a joint press conference with his Montenegro counterpart, the UAE Foreign Minister noted that frequent high-level visits between leaders of the two countries had been instrumental in the rapid, remarkable evolution and flourishing of diplomatic ties since their inception in 2008. ''Out of our conviction in the significance of these ties, we opened the UAE Embassy in Montenegro's capital, Podgorica in 2010, to become the first Arab country to take that step. I was glad to officially open the UAE Embassy premises during my current visit to Montenegro,'' Sheikh Abdullah said. ''The UAE is seeking to consolidate its ties with Montenegro in light of the signed agreements on avoidance of double taxation on income, air transport and promotion and protection of investment. Today we signed the agreement on mutual exemption of pre-entry visa requirements for the holders of diplomatic and special passports and the MoU on political consultations,'' he added. The UAE Foreign Minister said he was looking forward to broad cooperation and continued efforts to boost bilateral ties in all fields. Hafsa Abdullah Al Ulama, Ambassador of the UAE to Montenegro, attended the meeting. – Emirates News Agency, WAM