Minister of Defence Milica Pejanović Đurišić's official visit to Paris: French Support on the road to NATO

During the first official visit to the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of France, Minister of Defence Prof. Milica Pejanović-Djurišić, PhD, met with the Minister of Defence Mr. Jean-Yves Le Drian. On this occasion, Minister Pejanović Đurišić informed her counterpart about a number of reforms that Montenegro conducted in different areas, while expressing positive expectations from the upcoming NATO summit, in the context of Euro-Atlantic integrations of Montenegro. During the official meeting the Montenegrin and French delegations exchanged views on the current political and security issues in Europe and beyond, with a specific focus on the crisis in Ukraine.

French Minister of Defence Le Drian positively assessed the contribution of Montenegro to the system of collective security by participating in international missions and operations. On that occasion, he welcomed the recent ruling by the Montenegrin Parliament on the participation of members of the Montenegrin Army in the European Union mission in Mali and the EU operation in Central African Republic.

Insisting on further improvement and intensification of joint operations between the two Ministries and two Armies, the Ministers signed a Technical Agreement on Cooperation in the Field of Defense, thus creating an excellent basis for the continuation of collaboration.

During the official visit, Minister Pejanović Đurišić had the opportunity to meet with the special chief of the General Staff of the President of the French Republic General Benoit Puga, as well as with the French political director in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mr. Jacques Audibert. Minister informed her counterparts about the reforms that Montenegro successfully achieved in such a short period of time, as well with the expectations from the forthcoming NATO Summit. Minister emphasized that the official invitation at the Summit would not only be significant for Montenegro, but for the whole region of Western Balkans. General Benoit Puga and Mr. Jacques Audibert informed that Montenegro can count on the support from France in European and Euro-Atlantic integrations. They stressed that the NATO’s door are open for new members, as well as that Montenegro is, out of all current aspirant states, most prepared for the fully fledged NATO membership.

Montenegrin delegation consisted of Ambassador of Montenegro in France, Irena Radović, PhD, the commander of Montenegrin Navy Captain Darko Vuković, defence Adviser in the Montenegrin Mission to NATO Mrs. Radmila Perović as well as the First Secretary in Montenegrin Embassy in Paris, Mrs. Milica Đuričković.