Ministry of Defence: Montenegro maintains its position on ownership of training ship Jadran, remains committed to open and constructive dialogue while safeguarding national interests

Montenegro maintains its position on ownership of the training ship Jadran and expects the issue, as well as the succession of military assets, to be addressed responsibly and patiently, with due consideration given to both sides’ arguments, the Ministry of Defence said following a meeting with Croatia’s Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs.

According to a statement published by the ministry, a meeting between the commissions of Montenegro and the Republic of Croatia was held in Zagreb today to discuss the status of the training ship Jadran, which is regarded as a military and historical-cultural symbol of Montenegro, as well as issues concerning the succession of military assets of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY). The Montenegrin commission was headed by Defence Minister Dragan Krapović, while the Croatian commission was led by Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlić Radman.

It should be recalled that Croatia’s Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs has also stated that it maintains its position on the training ship Jadran.

The Ministry of Defence said that further consultations and consideration of the documentation presented should help identify a sustainable solution, in the spirit of good-neighbourly relations and constructive dialogue.

- Montenegro remains committed to fostering good-neighbourly relations with the Republic of Croatia and is grateful for Croatia’s continued support for Montenegro’s path towards European Union membership - the statement said.

The ministry added that Montenegro would resolutely continue on its European path, remaining committed to open and constructive dialogue while safeguarding its national interests.