Podgorica, (MINA) – Montenegro and the United Kingdom (UK) share a number of areas of mutual interest, the key one being the fight against organized crime and corruption, said Montenegrin Parliament Speaker Andrija Mandic.

According to the Parliament’s press release, Mandic is paying an official visit to the UK, at the invitation of the Speaker of the House of Commons, Lindsay Hoyle.

During the meeting, Mandic pointed out that Montenegro and the UK foster historically friendly and allied relations, and that numerous new opportunities for their development have been opened thanks to the strengthening of the high-level political dialogue, of which, according to the Parliament’s press release, this visit is one of the key elements.

Mandic added that the two countries share a number of areas of interest, the key one being the fight against organized crime and corruption.

“Our country owes great gratitude to the UK’s security services in the fight against organized crime and corruption, especially the fight against cigarette smuggling, for which Montenegro was unfortunately known during the rule of the former regime”, Mandic added.

According to the press release, Hoyle emphasized that the meeting with Mandic was of great importance, and that he was pleased that the head of the Parliament of Montenegro is a man with extensive parliamentary experience.

The Parliament stated that Mandic presented Hoyle with a gift – a painting of Njegos’s chapel in Lovcen.

He concluded that Montenegro, like the UK, is building its future on Christian morality and foundations that especially strengthen us in times of great challenge.