President of the OSCE PA and the Parliament of Montenegro Mr Ranko Krivokapić is staying in the official visit to the Czech Republic upon invitation of the presidents of both houses of the Parliament of the Czech Republic. Today, in Prague, Mr Krivokapić met with the President of the Senate Mr Milan Štěch as well as with the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic Mr Bohuslav Sobotka.

At the meeting with the President of the Senate Mr Milan Štěch, the interlocutors pointed out the historic connection that could be most evidently shown via the medal for courage demonstrated in combat, given to the Czech painter Mr Jaroslav Čermák by the King Nikola, until the present day, when the Czech Republic has been strongly advocating Montenegrin membership to the EU and North-Atlantic Alliance. Mr Krivokapić thanked Mr Štěch for his active engagement in both houses of the Czech Parliament in the field of state integration and democratisation of Montenegrin society. The political closeness between Montenegro and the Czech Republic has always been the best foundation for cooperation on concrete economic projects of the two countries.

At the meeting with the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic Mr Bohuslav Sobotka, Mr Krivokapić pointed out that Montenegro saw the Czech Republic as a good friend and proven long-term ally, but also an important investor.  Mr Krivokapić and Mr Sobotka agreed that the room for improvement of economic cooperation between the two countries was significant, especially in the field of transportation, energy and tourism, as both sides were interested in intensifying it. The offer of the state owned Energy Company Škoda Praha to build the second block of Thermal Power Plant Pljevlja has full support of the export funds of the Czech Republic.

Having in mind the high position of the President of the OSCE PA, who, as an institution, was given a central role in the engagement on resolving the Ukraine crisis, the interlocutors provided support for the current activities of all segments of the OSCE, insisting on including all involved sides in quickly finding a stable solution with full observation of sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.  

Today, in Prague, Mr Krivokapić also met with the members of the Czech delegation to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. They pointed out at the meeting that the year 2014 would be another challenging year for OSCE, especially in dimension of human rights, having in mind not only the current Ukraine crisis, but also the elections anticipated in multiple member states, including Ukraine, which should be monitored by the OSCE observers.