further lagging behind in the development of this European region, butalso opens the space for restoration of destructive theories that claim that, due to the fact that it is lagging behind, this region cannot live as a multi-ethnic and multi-confessional community and that its statescannot befunctional. They want to impute this constructed thesis to Bosnia and Herzegovina in particular, but also to smaller countries in the region, tomake an alibi for restoration of greater-state nationalisticprojects that in the 1990s led to thewar in Western Balkans with almost 150000 deaths. Our determination to fight these retrograde and dangerous ideas has not waveredand therefore today, from this place, Montenegro is warningof the renewed danger that Western Balkanswill be destabilized,and the horizons of its European prospects reduced

Let me say a few words about our southeast neighbourhood.Croatiahas vested interestsin thewell-being of theWestern Balkans.The region’sstability, functionalityand prosperity means a great deal to us. This is why Croatia is one of the strongestadvocates of the region’s EU enlargement prospects. The fulfilment of well-established criteria, the implementation of reforms and delivering tangible results remainkey requirements for EU membership. But even more so, the path to membership serves tosecurethe higherstandardsits peoplesaspire to.Democratic transformation and the rule of law will remaincentralmarkers. But we have also continuedto call on all regionalleaders to lower tensions, overcome their differences,and seek ways to build lasting relationships.