\u201cThis was an action taken by the Croatian Minister of Defense. Legally speaking, this document carries no weight. It is simply a gesture of goodwill. Unfortunately, Kosovo remains unrecognized by several NATO members, while Albania is a member of NATO\u2014a top-tier Alliance. Montenegro is also part of the Alliance,\u201d said President Zoran Milanovi\u0107 today at the Faculty of Political Science in Podgorica, responding to student questions about the recently signed Declaration on Cooperation in Defense and Security between Croatia, Albania and Kosovo, which has sparked some controversy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He further explained that it is not an international agreement in the strict sense of the term, nor does it qualify under Croatian law on international agreements. \u201cIt\u2019s a gesture, which is legitimate in politics. Serbia did not approve of it, and President Vu\u010di\u0107 used it as a reason or an excuse for certain domestic political moves. This is not an alliance, and it\u2019s certainly not geopolitics. Geopolitics refers to Ukraine; the Balkans have never been in that category,\u201d President Milanovi\u0107 stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the Faculty of Political Science in Podgorica President Milanovi\u0107 first delivered a lecture, titled \u201cEU Enlargement as a Geopolitical Imperative.\u201d In his lecture, he emphasized the importance of state sovereignty and self-respect, telling the students in Montenegro, \u201cThe most valuable thing you have and inherit is your state.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When discussing European integration, President Milanovi\u0107 stressed the importance of Montenegro staying focused on joining the European Union, but also maintaining dignity and autonomy in its decision-making. He cautioned the students, \u201cNever allow yourself to be put in a position of emotional or any other form of blackmail by those from whom you expect something, due to excessive desire.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The President also highlighted the importance of developing knowledge and technologies that ensure long-term competitiveness and stability, rather than reducing the region\u2019s economies to a system of low-value-added services. \u201cI want my country to be strong and to possess knowledge, processes, and technologies that are unique, or at least not widely available. I believe you want the same,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Commenting on the current state of the European Union, the President pointed out that the EU is currently in a politically unstable period, where, despite the importance of European institutions, they cannot replace the functions of a sovereign state. \u201cThe European Union was never intended to be a unified state, and it never will be,\u201d he said, emphasizing the differing perceptions of security threats between the northern and southern EU members.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In response to a student\u2019s question about whether the training ship Jadran<\/em> could impede Montenegro\u2019s EU accession, President Milanovi\u0107 clarified that Croatia\u2019s position is that the ship should belong to Croatia, but he does not believe it would stand in the way of Montenegro\u2019s EU entry. \u201cI stress that this path is yours to choose. Do not become obsessed with it. Montenegro\u2019s path to the EU is your decision, whenever that may happen and whatever it represents at that time,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Concluding his remarks, President Milanovi\u0107 urged the students to maintain their self-respect and to always defend their country\u2019s interests. \u201cPreserve your self-respect, don\u2019t let anyone demean you too much, and protect your country,\u201d he concluded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia \/ Tomislav Bu\u0161ljeta<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u201cThis was an action taken by the Croatian Minister of Defense. Legally speaking, this document carries no weight. It is simply a gesture of goodwill. Unfortunately, Kosovo remains unrecognized by several NATO members, while Albania is a member of NATO\u2014a top-tier Alliance. Montenegro is also part of the Alliance,\u201d said President Zoran Milanovi\u0107 today at the Faculty of Political Science in Podgorica, responding to student questions about the recently signed Declaration on Cooperation in Defense and Security between Croatia, Albania and Kosovo, which has sparked some controversy.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":36693,"template":"","news-cat":[12],"class_list":["post-36698","news","type-news","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","news-cat-news"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
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![<\/a>\n \n <\/div>\n\n\n\n\nPHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia \/ Tomislav Bu\u0161ljeta<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\u201cThis was an action taken by the Croatian Minister of Defense. Legally speaking, this document carries no weight. It is simply a gesture of goodwill. Unfortunately, Kosovo remains unrecognized by several NATO members, while Albania is a member of NATO\u2014a top-tier Alliance. Montenegro is also part of the Alliance,\u201d said President Zoran Milanovi\u0107 today at the Faculty of Political Science in Podgorica, responding to student questions about the recently signed Declaration on Cooperation in Defense and Security between Croatia, Albania and Kosovo, which has sparked some controversy.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":36693,"template":"","news-cat":[12],"class_list":["post-36698","news","type-news","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","news-cat-news"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nPresident Milanovi\u0107 on Declaration on Military Cooperation between Croatia, Albania and Kosovo: It is not an alliance and it has no legal weight - President of the Republic of Croatia - Zoran Milanovi\u0107<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.predsjednik.hr\/en\/news\/president-milanovic-on-declaration-on-military-cooperation-between-croatia-albania-and-kosovo-it-is-not-an-alliance-and-it-has-no-legal-weight\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"President Milanovi\u0107 on Declaration on Military Cooperation between Croatia, Albania and Kosovo: It is not an alliance and it has no legal weight - President of the Republic of Croatia - Zoran Milanovi\u0107\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"\u201cThis was an action taken by the Croatian Minister of Defense. 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