VP concludes official visit to Montenegro

Vice President Hussain Mohamed Latheef has concluded his official visit to the Republic of Montenegro.

Vice President Hussain departed to Montenegro from Velana International Airport (VIA), on 23 December 2023.

The Vice President visited Montenegro to attend the Third Congress of Democratic Montenegro in Danilovgrad, Montenegro. During his visit, the Vice President addressed the Congress at the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister for Security, Internal Policy, European, and Foreign Affairs and President of Democratic Montenegro, Aleksa Bečić.

Speaking at the Congress, the Vice President called to embrace the spirit of democracy, not just in words but in deeds, and to empower every citizen to engage, contribute, and shape the destiny of their nation.

During the trip, the Vice President also had a meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister Aleksa Bečić.

At the meeting, the Vice President thanked the First Deputy Prime Minister of Montenegro for inviting him to Montenegro and for the warm welcome and generous hospitality extended to him and his delegation.

Highlighting the scope for stronger bilateral ties between Maldives and Montenegro, the Vice President suggested avenues for improved ties in tourism, fisheries, trade and investment. He added that, as small countries, there was much mutual benefit to be achieved in stronger collaboration in multilateral forums.

The First Deputy Prime Minister of Montenegro congratulated Vice President Hussain Mohamed Latheef on the recent electoral success of President Dr. Muizzu and expressed his firm desire to strengthen ties between the two countries. He briefed the Vice President on the ongoing work in Montenegro to strengthen democracy and their efforts to attain early membership of the European Union.

At the meeting, Vice President Hussain Mohamed Latheef briefed the First Deputy Prime Minister of Montenegro on the foreign policy priorities of President Dr. Muizzu.

The Vice President also met with the Vice-President of the Parliament of Montenegro, Zdenka Popović.

Noting the Vice President's decade-long experience as a parliamentarian, she congratulated the Vice President on his election to office. She assured the Vice President that the new government of Montenegro was keen on forging closer ties of friendship and cooperation with the Maldives.

The Vice President thanked her for her hospitality and exchanged views on areas of mutual interest for the two countries.

Ambassador-at-Large, Mohamed Hussain Shareef, accompanied the Vice President during his trip.

The Republic of Maldives and the Republic of Montenegro established diplomatic relations on November 24, 2009.

VP Latheef concluded his trip and returned to Maldives on 28 December.