(L-R) Nedzad Adrovic, Diplomatic Office of the Embassy of Montenegro in Belgium; Xavier Bettel, Luxembourg Deputy Prime Minister; Ervin Ibrahimović, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro; nc; nc;
Credit: Ali Sahib, Chronicle.lu
On the morning of Thursday 2 July 2026, the Diplomatic Office of the Embassy of Montenegro in Belgium, based in Luxembourg, officially inaugurated its premises in the presence of Luxembourg’s Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Xavier Bettel, and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro, Ervin Ibrahimović.
The ceremony at the new premises on Avenue de la Liberté in Luxembourg-Gare welcomed members of Luxembourg’s Montenegrin community and representatives of several embassies in Luxembourg, and began with guests observing the Montenegrin, Luxembourg and European Union anthems, and featured speeches from Deputy Prime Minister Ibrahimović and Deputy Prime Minister Bettel, before the official ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Minister Ibrahimović began by welcoming the guests and said: “It is a great honour and pleasure to join you today in Luxembourg as we mark the opening of Montenegro's diplomatic office. This is an important milestone that reflects our shared commitment to further strengthening the excellent relations between our two countries.”
He remarked that the establishment of Montenegro's diplomatic office in Luxembourg created new opportunities for closer engagement in Luxembourg's institutions, stronger economic ties and deeper connections between each country’s citizens and noted the 20 years of diplomatic relations between Montenegro and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg since Montenegro restored its independence in 2006. He said: “Over the past two decades, we have built a relation founded on trust, mutual respect, and close partnership, which we continue to develop nowadays with the same vision and determination.”
The Deputy Prime Minister of Montenegro referenced the near 2,700 Montenegrins present in the Grand Duchy and said: “Our diaspora serves as a vital bridge between our two countries and further strengthens the bonds of friendship and cultural understanding. We are proud that our fellow citizens have successfully integrated into Luxembourgish society, where they contribute through their work and achievement while continuing to preserve and promote Montenegro's tradition, culture, and identity through their association and activities. In doing so, they maintain a strong connection with their homeland. Thanks to them, the relationship between Montenegro and Luxembourg has a unique human dimension that makes it even stronger and more enduring.”
In his speech, Minister Bettel noted the working relationship he has shared with Ervin Ibrahimović over the years, describing their time at various NATO conferences as “neighbours”. He then went on to highlight the significance of today’s ceremony and Montenegro establishing diplomatic representation in Luxembourg, particularly in light of the Balkan country’s ongoing application to the join the European Union. Minister Bettel referred to the application process, complimenting Montenegro’s approach to joining the EU and calling the country, in his opinion, “the closest, the most advanced to be the 28th member of the European Union”.
He added: “We will be very happy after, when you enter the European Union, to be able to welcome the first ambassador from Montenegro to Luxembourg…I want to congratulate you for all you did. I want to congratulate you for the opening of this office…You belong to the ten biggest communities, non-EU communities, in the grandeur of Luxembourg.”
Following the ribbon-cutting ceremony the event concluded with a standing reception with light refreshments.
