PM Lukšić: Euro-Atlantic integration way to long-term and sustainable stability of entire region

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Budva Montenegro (5June 2012) – Prime Minister Igor Lukšić participated in the annual 2BC Forum (To Be Secure Forum), sponsored by the Atlantic Council of Montenegro, member of the Atlantic Treaty Organisation, which takes place in Budva, Montenegro, on 4 – 6 July.

Opening the working part of the Forum, which seeks to exchange views on the role of the Western Balkans in the context of modern world’s security challenges, PM Lukšić said that the recent NATO Summit in Chicago has once again confirmed the organisation’s unity when it comes to issues that are related to global peace and its vital role in the global security system.

He strongly welcomed the Summit's joint declaration which confirmed that NATO remains committed to the open-door policy and “that all the countries that share its democratic values are welcome to join the club”.

Such approach, PM Lukšić pointed out, encourages Montenegro to continue to pursue intensive reforms with the view of soon NATO accession, expressing hope that the very next summit will be the enlargement one.

The process of Euro-Atlantic integration is, in Prime Minister’s Lukšić’s words, the way to long-term and sustainable peace and stability of the entire region, which is also one of Montenegro’s key foreign policy objectives.

The Western Balkans’ perspective is much better now than it was 10 years ago, PM lukšić said. However, he added, “it requires a certain degree of attention.”

“For that reason, Montenegro strongly supports the efforts of the Bosnia and Hercegovina to join NATO’s Membership Action Plan, the renewal of dialogue between Belgrade and Prištin, and removal of barriers for Macedonia’s accession to NATO,” he emphasised.

The new NATO partnership policy aims to create a wide network of countries including countries outside the Euro-Atlantic areas as well, the countries that can play significant role in maintaining its stability.

The prime example of the cooperative approach is the engagement of 50 countries in ISAF mission in Afganistan, which includes 5 countries of the Western Balkans – Montenegro and its neighbours Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia and Croatia.

He noted that Montenegro, along with other countries of the Western Balkans, also takes part in ISAF mission through the American-Adriatic Chapter, the initiative that brings together five countries of the region and represents the forum for cooperation with another 3 countries.

By taking part in ISAF and other missions, the countries of the region proved themselves as active participants and contributors to global peace and stability, and as reliable partners in the most complex NATO operations, the Prime Minister remarked.

He concluded by saying that Montenegro will continue to be part of the mission in Afghanistan and that the withdrawal of the Montenegrin soldiers from Afghanistan will be conducted gradually until 2014.

“Montenegro will continue to contribute to the mission in Afghanistan even after 2014 during the so called “transformation decade” when the focus will be set to stability, economic recovery, further strengthening of institutions and democratic values”, PM Lukšić stressed at 2BC Forum in Budva.