Minister Pejanović Đurišić at North Atlantic Council meeting

Brussels, Belgium (14 June 2016) – Meeting of NATO Ministers of Defence is taking place on 14-15 June at NATO headquarters in Brussel, on which for the first time since the signing of the Accession Protocol participates Minister of Defense Milica Pejanović Đurišić.

The main topics of the two-day meeting of Ministers is Alliance's adaptation to modern security challenges, reinforcement of collective defense, as well as strengthening cooperation with partner countries and international organisations, primarily the EU. Ministers also talked about the overall activities in terms of improving defense capabilities of the Alliance and positively assessed the progress made in terms of investment in the defence of the member countries.

Allies have confirmed readiness to continue their efforts in the fight against terrorism, extremism, as well as in preserving democratic values of contemporary society.

Ministers welcomed Montenegrin Minister's first participation at the NATO meeting and expressed confidence that Montenegro will be a credible ally, thanks to successfully implemented comprehensive reforms. Minister Pejanović Đurišić confirmed the full commitment of Montenegro to allied efforts aimed at strengthening collective defense and projecting stability beyond the borders of NATO. In this context, she stressed the readiness of Montenegro to provide a further contribution to the priorities of the Alliance within its means.

The meeting was also an opportunity to exchange views on the agenda and decisions that will be made at the forthcoming Summit in Warsaw on 8-9 July 2016.

Minister Pejanović Đurišić had a bilateral meeting with French Minister of Defence Jean-Yves Le Drian, where the two officials discussed the further enhancement of cooperation between the two countries in the field of defence. Minister Le Drian said that the signing of the Accession Protocol is evidence of the success of implemented reforms and that France will take necessary measures to ratify the Protocol as soon as possible.