Deputy Prime Minister Lukšić receives invitation letter for NATO membership

Podgorica, Montenegro (22 December 2015) – Earlier today, Montenegro’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Igor Lukšić received a letter by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg formally inviting Montenegro to begin the process of accession to NATO.

According to the procedure, the extending of the invitation letter will be followed by the opening of accession negotiations which will last several months. Following their completion, NATO member states are expected to sign a protocol on the accession of Montenegro to NATO and begin the process of ratification. The protocol will enable Montenegro to take part in most NATO meetings.

Montenegro will continue fulfilling the requirements from its Euro-Atlantic agenda, both during the accession negotiations and ratification process. The decision to extend the invitation once again testifies to Montenegro’s success in pursuing reforms and the Government's determination to continue the reform momentum in the key areas in order to make sure the country is fully prepared for the membership.