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Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met with his Montenegrin counterpart Friday to discuss the suspension of visa-free travel for Turkish citizens, a measure imposed after a stabbing incident sparked anti-Turkish demonstrations in the Balkan nation.
Fidan held discussions in Istanbul with Filip Ivanovic, who serves as Montenegro's deputy prime minister and foreign minister, according to information obtained from Turkish Foreign Ministry sources.
The diplomatic meeting comes after Montenegro temporarily suspended visa-free travel for Turkish nationals following unrest in the capital city of Podgorica.
A Montenegrin citizen was injured in a knife attack involving Turkish nationals, leading to the detention of a group of Turkish citizens. The incident triggered racist demonstrations targeting Turks in Montenegro.
Montenegrin Prime Minister Milojko Spajic announced the suspension of the visa-free travel arrangement in the aftermath of the violence.
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During Friday's talks, Fidan emphasized Türkiye's determination to deepen cooperation and friendship between the two countries, according to ministry sources. The Turkish foreign minister also stated that Ankara expects all necessary measures to be taken to prevent any recurrence of attacks targeting the safety and rights of Turkish citizens in Montenegro.
The suspension marks a setback in bilateral relations between Türkiye and the small Adriatic nation, which had previously allowed Turkish citizens to enter without visas.
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