Defence Minister Pejanović-Đurišić: I expect NATO ministerial meeting in December to confirm Montenegro's progress

Podgorica, Montenegro (12 November 2015) – “I think we can be optimistic ahead of the NATO ministerial meeting sheduled for 1 December and expect that their decision will acknowledge Montenegro's achievements in many sectors, not only in the area of defence,” Minister of Defence Milica Pejanović-Đurišić said in an interview for Radio of Montenegro earlier today.

She noted that on the basis of the results achieved, Montenegro can expect a positive decision:

“We have done everything we could in terms of reforms, their implementation and results, and we expect that our partners in the Alliance will understand the geo-strategic picture and how important Montenegro's membership in NATO is for the region and EU. I am also hopeful we can show the high level of understanding and trust, and that we can assume liability for everyday challenges. Certainly, the global political and security context will have a role in the decision-making,” the Defence Minister underscored.

She stressed that some interpretations in favour or against NATO membership focus on the argument according to which the sovereignty of a country joining NATO should be brought into question.

"It is far from the real situation, each state has the voice and opinion of equal importance, as demonstrated in a series of cases and examples. We try to explain that NATO has its political character implying that decisions are made by consensus," Minister Pejanović-Đurišić concluded.