(ANSA) - BRUXELLES - The President of the European Council Donald Tusk, said during a joint press point with the President of Montenegro Milo Djukanovic in Brussels, that he "would like to see a fast progress in the accession talks with Montenegro, this means not only opening but also closing of new chapters", but "the pace of talks" with the EU "is set by the country" itself.

Tusk expressed his "personal regret that pro-European forces in the country are not able to cooperate within the existing constitution" and asked Djukanovic to "fully" implement the "recommendations made by international observers on the electoral process".

Tusk then reiterated the key priorities on which the former Yugoslavian country must continue to work to get closer to Brussels: full respect of the rule of law and protection of media freedom. The EU President also confirmed that " European and Euro-Atlantic direction of Montenegro is beyond any doubt " and ended the press point giving thanks to Podgorica for "unwavering support to EU foreign and security policy". (ANSA).