Brussels: Montenegro's progress in pursuing defence reform welcomed by NATO and US officials

Brussels, Belgium (27 February 2014) – Montenegro's Minister of Defence Milica Pejanović Đurišić met yesterday in Brussels with NATO's Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs and Security Policy Thrasyvoulos Stamatopoulos, and Derek Chollet, the US Assistant Secretary of Defence for International Security.

Minister Pejanović Đurišić informed the two officials about reforms the Ministry of Defence and the Government of Montenegro are implementing in order to become a full-fledged member of the NATO, as well as about Montenegro's expectations for the forthcoming NATO summit in Wales.

Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs and Security Policy Thrasyvoulos Stamatopoulos noted that Montenegro has made great progress in strengthening the defence system and implementing reforms. He commended participation of the Montenegrin army in the ISAF mission, stressing that Montenegro serves as an example of stability and regional cooperation.

The meeting with Derek Chollet highlighted that bilateral cooperation between Montenegro and the USA is extremely dynamic and that Montenegro can count on the US full support for its NATO bid.