Russia hopes relations with Montenegro lean towards centuries-old traditions of friendship, unity.
“This year marks 310 years since the establishment of official contacts between Russia and Montenegro and 15 years of Russia’s diplomatic relations with modern Montenegro. As President Vladimir Putin recently stated, the people of our countries are connected by centuries-old traditions of friendship and spiritual unity, and we hope that our interstate relations will develop in this direction,” the Russian Ambassador to Podgorica, Vladislav Maslenikov told daily Vijesti.
“Montenegro’s NATO accession could not but have a negative impact on relations with our country, while in the background, the long-term Russophobic campaign has multiplied this negative effect,” said the ambassador, adding that there have been “positive changes” since the elections in August and the formation of Montenegro’s new government.
“The new government stated its desire to ‘turn a new leaf’ to improve relations with Russia,” he added, wondering, however, whether the new authorities were serious about taking concrete steps.
