Minister Pejanovic Djurisic met US Secretary of Defence Charles Hagel

Within the framework of the official visit to the United States of America, Defence Minister Milica Pejanovic Djurisic, Phd had a meeting with the US Secretary of Defence Charles Hagel.

During the conversation, Minister Pejanovic Djurisic confirmed readiness and commitment of Montenegro with regard to the implementation of activities from the Euro-Atlantic agenda, particularly in the areas that require additional improvements and results. She pointed out significant progress in the areas of rule of law, fight against corruption, increase of public support for joining NATO Alliance, continuation of reforms in security sector, as well as continuation of equipping and modernizing the Armed Forces of Montenegro. In this context, she expects that the level of readiness and achieved progress of Montenegro will be adequately recognized and verified at the upcoming NATO Summit in Wales. In addition, Minister Pejanovic Djurisic is convinced that the process of Euro-Atlantic integrations, ongoing in Montenegro, has significant contribution in improving the overall efficiency and quality of public institutions, as well as democratic development of the whole Montenegrin society.

Discussing bilateral cooperation with the USA in the area of defence, Minister Pejanovic Djurisic said that the current military-military cooperation is meaningful and useful for further development of capabilities and interoperability of the Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces personnel, particularly in the area of education and training, as well as equipping the AF units with modern equipment. In this context she expects to expand future cooperation in other areas. She reminded Secretary Hagel on the participation of the Montenegrin soldiers in international missions and operations, primarily in the ISAF Mission in Afghanistan, as well as in the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), and EU Mission “ATALANTA” in the waters of Somalia. Additionally she informed him about the plans of sending our soldiers to the EU Missions in Mali and Central-African Republic, about which the Parliament of Montenegro has recently adopted a decision.

US Defence Secretary Charles Hagel emphasized the progress Montenegro made during the previous period, particularly in modernizing and reforming defence sector. In his talks about the upcoming NATO Summit, he encouraged Montenegro to continue with the reforms, expressing their readiness to continue providing support in these processes. US Defence Secretary Hagel has specifically acknowledged results achieved by Montenegrin soldiers in international missions and operations, expressing further support for Montenegrin efforts to, in this way, contribute in building global peace.

During the meeting they exchanged opinions on the actual security situation in Ukraine and its possible reflections on the region of Southeast Europe.

After the meeting with US Defence Secretary Hagel, Minister Pejanovic Djurisic visited Pentagon Memorial Room dedicated to the victims of terrorist attack on Pentagon from 11^th September, 2001 and enrolled in the Memorial Book.

Minister Pejanovic Djurisic met with the Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs, Puneet Talwar. On this occasion, she has informed him with the accomplished reforms, as well as the expectations from the upcoming NATO Summit in Wales. Minister pointed out that Montenegro has, in continuity and in sustainable manner, implemented reforms, which in such a way create basis for the implementation of standards and criteria envisaged by the Euro-Atlantic Agenda. In addition, she emphasized that Montenegro is committed in further improving good neighbourly relations and cooperation among the countries of the region in order to ensure security and create favourable conditions for economic development. 

Assistant Talwar agreed that Montenegro achieved significant results in NATO accession processes. He expressed his conviction that partners will recognize the level of Montenegrin readiness to become member of NATO and encouraged Montenegro to continue with reforms. 

Furthermore, Minister met the Director of the SD Office for South and Central Europe, Jonathan Moore. On this occasion they talked about the existing situation in the region, as well as possible implications of the Ukraine crisis on the region of Western Balkan. Minister Pejanovic Djurisic and Moore have agreed that Montenegro has very important role in stabilizing the region and enhancing good neighbourly relations, as well as that Montenegrin membership to NATO would have positive impact to the whole region of Western Balkan.

Ambassador of Montenegro in Washington Srdjan Darmanovic, Phd participated in meetings at the Pentagon and State Department.