Chicago Summit strongly welcomes Montenegro progress towards NATO membership

Chicago, the USA (21 Maya 2012) -- Following the first day of NATO Summit in Chicago, heads of NATO member states and governments adopted the declaration in which they unreservedly welcomed the significant progress Montenegro has achieved in its NATO bid. They in particular praised Montenegro’s track record in pursuing important political, economic and defence reforms towards full NATO membership.

“We welcome the significant progress that Montenegro has made towards NATO membership and its contribution to security in the Western Balkans region and beyond, including through its active role in regional cooperation activities and its participation in ISAF. We also welcome the increasing public support for NATO membership in Montenegro, and will continue to assist this process. Montenegro’s active engagement in the MAP process demonstrates firm commitment to join the Alliance. Montenegro has successfully implemented significant political, economic and defence reforms, and we encourage it to continue on that path so it can draw even closer to the Alliance. We will keep Montenegro’s progress towards membership under active review,” the Declaration says.

The Declaration also thanked the four NATO aspiring countries (former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Georgia) for their commitment to global security and contribution to NATO-led operations.

NATO will continue to encourage Euro-Atlantic integration of the Western Balkans, the Declaration continues, stressing the significance of regional cooperation in achieving lasting peace and stability.

“Together, Allies and partners of the region actively contribute to the maintenance of regional and international peace, including through regional cooperation formats,” the Declaration concludes.

Prime Minister Igor Lukšić voiced satisfaction with “the message of strong encouragement” for Montenegro’s NATO bid that was sent from the Chicago Summit, adding that Montenegro needs to continue its efforts.

“I think it is important for us to recognise the support we have been provided and to continue to work devotedly so that we could, as we hope, at the very next NATO summit, talk about concrete activities, and, possibly, of the invitation to join the Alliance”, PM Lukšić underlined.