Montenegro's Defence Minister visits OSCE headquarters in Vienna: Montenegro important factor in establishing stability in Western Balkan

Vienna, Austria (2 April 2014) – Minister of Defence Milica Pejanović Đurišić met with the OSCE Secretary General Lambert Zannier for talks on the reforms implemented within the Montenegrin defence system and current European issues.

Montenegro’s Ministry of Defence and the OSCE have established excellent cooperation, particularly in the political-military dimension, Minister Pejanović-Đurišić underlined. She said that the OSCE is a large contributor to the stabilisation of the situation in Ukraine, adding that Montenegro is willing to support peaceful solution of the crisis with full respect for political independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country.

Minister Pejanović-Đurišić informed Secretary General Zannier about Montenegro’s priorities towards Euro-Atlantic integration and the activities launched by the Ministry of Defence in reforming the defence sector.

Ambassador Zannier commended the results Montenegro has achieved in reforming defence sector and highlighted that the implementation of the MONDEM programme is quite a reliable indicator of successful collaboration between the Ministry of Defence and the OSCE.

Minister Pejanović-Đurišić also attended the OSCE’s Forum for Security Cooperation in Vienna and thanked the OSCE member states for support and funds which helps Montenegro implement the MONDEM project.

Representatives of the member states of the OSCE commended the Government of Montenegro for its commitment to pursuing reforms in the defence sector and for the efforts made towards destroying surplus of weapons, adding that Montenegro is very important in building security and trust among the Western Balkan’s countries.