Congratulations on receiving NATO invitation sent via Twitter

Podgorica, Montenegro (2 December 2015) -- The Government of Montenegro thanked earlier this morning through its official Twitter account all NATO members, especially its immediate neighbours, for extending the invitation for the start of accession talks, which was followed by numerous congratulations offered through the social network.

"Montenegro thanks NATO allies for the invitation to join the Alliance," the Government of Montenegro posted on the Twitter accounts in the Montenegrin (@VladaCG) and English (@MeGovernment) languages, immediately after Secretary-General Stoltenberg announced the decision.

In addition to numerous "ordinary" Tweeters, congratulations were sent to the Government of Montenegro and Prime Minister Đukanović by almost all the permanent missions of NATO member states, as well as foreign ministries of Croatia (@MVEP_Hr), Albania (@AlbanianMFA), Slovenia (@MZZRS), Romania (@MAERomania), Canada (@CanadaOTAN) and Latvia (@Latvian MFA).

Congratulations were also sent by US Secretary of State John Kerry (@JohnKerry), EU Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy Johannes Hahn (@JhahnEU), President of Kosovo Atifete Jahjaga (@PresidentKosovo), Prime Minister of Estonia Taavi Roivas (@TaaviRoivas), First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Slovakia Miroslav Lajčák (@MiroslavLajcak), NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg (@jensstoltenberg), Chairman of the Defence Committee in the Estonian Parliament Marko Mihkelson (@MarkoMihkelson), UK Ambassador to Montenegro Ian Witing (@UkinMontenegro), Ambassador of Canada to Ukraine Roman Vashchuk (WaschukCanUA) and others.

The Tweeter messages emphasise that Montenegro deserved to receive a NATO invitation due to the reforms it had implemented.

“Invitation is well deserved reward to people for hard work and reforms. Need to continue during accession protocols,” the Mission of the United Kingdom to NATO (@UKNATO) says in its tweet. It also notes this is the seventh enlargement of NATO.

EU Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn stated the invitation is a recognition of Montenegro’s reformists, but that more needs to be done, in particular in the rule of law area. Tanja Fajon (@tfajon), Member of the European Parliament, agrees that the invitation means a recognition of the progress achieved in pursuing reforms.

Kosovo’s President Jahjaga said in her tweet that "Kosovo looks forward to join you soon," while Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Hashim Thaci (@HashimThaciRKS) congratulates the Government and people of Montenegro stating that Kosovo is now safer as it is surrounded by two NATO member states. Minister of European Integration of Kosovo Bekim Colak (@bcollaku1) notes this is “a big step forward for the security of the region.” Serbian politician Čedomir Jovanović (@Ceda_Jovanovic), President of the Liberal Democratic Party, takes the same position saying that the invitation to Montenegro is an “encouragement for the entire region.”

The US Embassy to Montenegro (@USEmbassyMNE) in his congratulatory message says that bright future is lies ahead of NATO and Montenegro.

Polish Embassy in Montenegro (@PLinCrnaGora) states that it is a "historic day."

Mission of Estonia to NATO (@estNATO) conveys the words of the Secretary-General implying that the invitation to Montenegro is based on common values and security interests in Europe, and that it is not a message to Russia.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Slovenia (@MZZRS) notes in its tweet the attitude of Minister Karl Erjavec that the invitation is also a result of the efforts made by Slovenia.

The Government of Montenegro launched its Twitter accounts in English (MeGovernment) and Montenegrin (VladaCG) in 2011.

The communication through these accounts has received many awards in international research of Twitter activities of political and institutional Twiplomacy accounts. In 2012, @MeGovernment account was among the top 25 most successful institutional Twitter accounts in the world. According to the number of followers per capita, they have been ranked among the top 10 Tweeter accounts in the world in the past few years 6th in 2014, and 7th in 2015.

Twitter accounts of the Government of Montenegro report on the latest activities of the Government and ministries, relevant developments in Montenegro, culture, sports, tourism and other topics promoting Montenegro and the Government’s activities.