NATO strongly supports Montenegro's reforms towards membership in alliance, Stoltenberg of NATO underlines in Podgorica

Podgorica, Montenegro (10 June 2015) – Montenegro's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Igor Lukšić, and Minister of Defence Milica Pejanović-Đurišić met late this afternoon in Podgorica with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in po.

NATO strongly supports reforms undertaken by Montenegro on its path towards the membership in the Alliance, Secretary General Stoltenberg said, adding it is crucial to maintain the positive trend until the end of the year.

Deputy Prime Minister Lukšić said that Montenegro is ready to receive the invitation to join NATO, which would be a huge boost to further development of the Montenegrin society and implementation of reforms. He reiterated the government’s clear strategic orientation in terms of its foreign priorities, which implementation will create conditions for the development of the whole region and promotion of stability and security of the Western Balkans and the Mediterranean.

Montenegro will continue building its certain Euro-Atlantic perspective which started when Montenegro restored independence in 2006, Deputy Prime Minister Lukšić noted, hopeful that the achievements the country has made will result in the Alliance’s positive decision which is to be reached by the end of the year.

Minister Pejanović-Đurišić informed Mr Stoltenberg about the results achieved in the process of defence reform. She pointed out that the Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces of Montenegro are ready to enter the system of the Alliance, which has been repeatedly stated by the partners.

"I believe that the membership invitation will be sent by the end of 2015, which will be of huge significance not only for Montenegro, but also for strengthening stability of the Western Balkan," Montenegro’s Defence Minister underlined, stressing Montenegro's contribution to international peace through its participation in international peacekeeping missions.

It was jointly concluded that Montenegro's membership in NATO will contribute to strengthening stability in the region and security of the Mediterranean and Europe as a whole.