Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ervin Ibrahimović is paying an official visit to the Swiss Confederation on the occasion of the ceremonial opening of the Embassy of Montenegro in Bern.

The opening of the Embassy represents an important step forward in strengthening Montenegro's diplomatic presence and further enhancing bilateral relations with Switzerland. Ibrahimović underlined that this act constitutes a clear expression of Montenegro's commitment to strengthening cooperation and political dialogue with Switzerland, emphasizing that Montenegro highly values the long-standing friendly relations with this country and is grateful for Switzerland's continuous support to Montenegro's foreign policy priorities and reform process.

The opening of the Embassy in Bern is a clear and tangible expression of our commitment to further strengthening bilateral cooperation across numerous areas, as well as to maintaining continuous, direct, and constructive political dialogue between Montenegro and Switzerland, Ibrahimović stated.

As part of the visit, Ibrahimović met with Vice President of Switzerland and Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs Ignazio Cassis. Their talks focused on enhancing political dialogue, strengthening bilateral cooperation, and further developing economic relations. It was particularly emphasized that economic cooperation represents the most dynamic segment of bilateral relations, as evidenced by the fact that Switzerland has been among the largest foreign investors in Montenegro over the past five years. The two officials assessed that Montenegro and Switzerland share similar views on many international issues and are united by common values related to the preservation of peace, stability, and prosperity.

Ibrahimović highlighted that these shared values are also reflected in Switzerland's strong support for Montenegro's reform processes.

During the meeting, Minister Cassis stated that Montenegro and Switzerland enjoy strong and substantive economic ties, noting that the opening of the Embassy of Montenegro in Bern will further deepen cooperation in the coming period, particularly in the fields of tourism, economy, education, and other areas of mutual interest.

Special attention during the visit was devoted to the Montenegrin diaspora in Switzerland, which represents a strong bond between the two countries. A significant number of Montenegrin citizens living and working in Switzerland are well integrated into Swiss society and play an important role in strengthening economic and social ties between the two countries. The opening of the Embassy in Bern further reinforces institutional support for Montenegrin citizens in Switzerland and enhances ties with the diaspora.

Ibrahimović emphasized that expatriates originating from Montenegro in Switzerland play a significant role in further consolidating the friendly relations between the two states.

The official visit confirms Montenegro's commitment to further advancing relations with the Swiss Confederation - one of Montenegro's important partners in Europe - through strengthening its diplomatic presence and intensifying political dialogue.