Defence Minister for VOA: SG Stoltenberg’s visit opportunity to demonstrate Montenegro’s readiness for NATO membership

The second visit of NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg to Montenegro over the last few months, as well as the visit of the North Atlantic Council (NAC), is an opportunity to demonstrate once more why we keep telling that Montenegro, its Ministry of Defence, and Armed Forces of Montenegro are fully prepared for NATO membership, Minister of Defence of Montenegro Milica Pejanović Đurišić said in an interview for the Voice of America.

“Judging by the clear support pledged by the United States, our major strategic partner, as well as by a number of European partners, I expect a positive outcome in the process of harmonising the decision on extending a membership invitation to Montenegro,” she pointed out.

The Defence Minister said that Montenegro has achieved much better results in all the key areas, namely the rule of law, security services reform, and public support.

“Monitoring our obligations defined by the MAP and annual national plans, as well as through the intensified and focused talks following the last year’s NATO Summit in Wales, we can say that we have been committed to meeting requirements, which speaks of whether a country aspiring to become a member of the Alliance shares values ​​that make it a reliable and credible partner,” Minister Pejanović Đurišić explained.

She believes it is clear that the membership in a collective defence and security system such as NATO guarantees Montenegro’s future security.

“Nowadays, we are all facing security challenges on a daily basis, and we became aware that these issues demand joint actions,” the Defence Minister noted.

Defence Minister Pejanović Đurišić stated that NATO creates conditions for better democratic development, respect for human rights and investments.

“All this is not possible if you are isolated. You must be part of a global story in order to make the values you stand for effective,” she added.

Minister Pejanović Đurišić is convinced that following Secretary-General Stoltenberg’s visits, it will be even clearer that a NATO invitation will be sent in December.

"I truly believe we will get a membership invitation. Of course, I am also aware that the decision does not depend only on whether or not Montenegro has achieved the expected results, or whether or not it has changed to a desirable extent, but on a whole set of global geostrategic issues that have effects on our region. At the moment, having in mind the clear support pledged by the United States, our major strategic partner, as well as by a number of other European partners, I expect a positive outcome in the process of harmonising positions,“ the Montenegro’s Minister of Defence concluded.