19 February 2019 - Minister of the Interior Mevludin Nuhodžić met with his Turkish counterpart Süleyman Soylu in Ankara, Turkey. It was assessed that the meeting is a confirmation of the high-quality bilateral relations and friendship between the two countries.
Minister Nuhodžić stressed that the successful fight against all forms of crime requires intensive and continuous cooperation and information exchange.
"Our task is to send a message, through joint actions of the Montenegrin and Turkish police, that every criminal, every fugitive from justice, knows that they will not be able to find safe haven in either Montenegro or Turkey," said Minister Nuhodžić.
Expressing satisfaction with the cooperation and friendly relations between the two countries, Minister Nuhodžić thanked Turkey for the assistance it provides in the area of specialist training and education of Montenegrin police officers. He expressed confidence that the meeting will be an additional incentive for further strengthening of cooperation between the ministries of the interior of Montenegro and Turkey.
Minister Soylu said that the meeting agreed on the improvement of cooperation between the two ministries in the field of police affairs and expressed gratitude to Montenegro for its support in the fight against illegal migration, smuggling, organised crime and terrorism.
"This meeting is a crown of good cooperation and friendship between the Republic of Turkey and Montenegro. Montenegro's NATO membership is extremely important and, therefore, the intention of our two ministries is to further improve cooperation and jointly confront the common forces with all security challenges and threats," the Turkish Minister stressed.
"Stability and further development of the countries of the Western Balkans is very important for Turkey. We see Montenegro as an example of a multi-ethnic and multireligious harmony, bearing in mind that members of different faiths and nations live in Montenegro," he noted, adding that the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan intends to visit Montenegro in the near future.
Following the meeting, the two interior ministers signed an agreement on cooperation and mutual assistance in emergency situations. "This agreement is a confirmation of mutual readiness for solidarity and cooperation between our two friendly states," Minister Nuhodžić said.
