The fight against organized crime topped the agenda during the meeting of the presidents of Serbia and Montenegro at the state residence of “Villa Gorica” overlooking the Montenegrin capital of Podgorica on Friday, reported the Serbian news agency Tanjug.

At a joint news conference, Serbian President Boris Tadic and his Montenegrin counterpart Filip Vujanovic said their two countries had realized tangible results in the battle against organized crime, an issue that plagues most countries of the Balkans.

“Serbia and Montenegro can become an example of effective cooperation in this area and a good example for other countries of this region,”said Tadic, adding that their cooperation had gone beyond signing bilateral agreements and had resulted in practical results.

Serbia's Boris Tadic, left, and Montenegro's Filip Vujanovic

Vujanovic said cooperation between the two neighboring countries was “a necessity”to successfully fight organized crime.

The two presidents also attended the opening of a business forum in the Montenegrin capital, where Vujanovic said “Our economies are compatible, not competitive, and our common interest is to encourage investors to create new jobs.”

Trade between Serbia and Montenegro during the first nine months of 2010 amounted to 373 million euros (about 510 million U. S. dollars), according to Vujanovic. Last year an estimated 340, 000 Serbian tourists visited Montenegro, most visiting coastal regions during the summer months.

To make the two countries more attractive to investors, Tadic said Serbia and Montenegro should pay greater attention to the Belgrade-Bar railroad, which links the Serbian capital to the Adriatic port of Bar. The railroad and port currently function well below capacity and are in need of modernization.

“The Belgrade-Bar railway should be the focus of our attention, especially since the level of investment is not significant given its potential,” said Tadic.

However, the planned construction of a highway network through Montenegro and into Serbia, linking Belgrade to the Adriatic coast, was not feasible at the moment, said Tadic.

“Serbia symbolically started the section from Ub to Valjevo ( in central Serbia) but I am not happy with its progress at the moment,”stated Tadic. “Serbia cannot complete the construction of this corridor because for this political and economic alliances are required.”
November 19, 2010
XINHUA

• A Permanent Economic Emergency