ISTANBUL

Poland’s outgoing president on Monday said he believes the small Balkan nation of Montenegro could join the European Union by 2028.

Andrzej Duda made the prediction during a joint news conference with Jakov Milatovic, the president of Montenegro, which is situated in the Western Balkans, on the Adriatic Sea.

Montenegro became an EU candidate country in 2010.

The two leaders pointed to their friendship and cooperation, according to public broadcaster Radio Montenegro.

Addressing the recent conflict between Israel and Iran, they also voiced their hope for a resolution at the negotiation table.

"We want this conflict to end as we cannot imagine its further escalation. And I hope that it will end soon," Duda said, according to the national Polish Press Agency.

He also said he found the weekend US attacks on Iran's nuclear sites "determined" and "necessary."

"If the US got engaged and made an intervention in the Iranian nuclear program in such a strong way, it is obvious to me that the US attack has confirmed the concerns voiced earlier about Iran's plans to obtain nuclear weapons, which could pose a threat not only to the Middle East but also to the world," Duda added.

Duda, who is not eligible to serve another term, will be succeeded in early August by Karol Nawrocki, who won the country’s presidential election earlier this month.