Address by Prime Minister Đukanović at Expert Forum of NATO Summit in Warsaw

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(Address at the Expert Forum of the NATO Summit in Warsaw, “Role of NATO in preserving peace“, 8 July 2016)


Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is my great honour to have the opportunity to speak at this prestigeous forum about the role of NATO in preserving peace through the perspective of Montenegro. My country participates this year at the Alliance Summit as an invitee. NATO Summit represents an ideal context for the discussion on this topic.

Western Balkans has been historically known as an usntable region where political, ethnical, religious, territorial and other tensions and pretensions would escalate in almost every generation into an armed conflict. In the beginning of the nineties the penultimum armed conflict in Europe took place there. An end was put to it precisely owing to the NATO engagement. The European Union and the Alliance realized that the focal points of potential conflicts were still alive in the Balkans, and created an opportunity for its long-term stabilization through the process of European and Euro-Atlantic integration. That approach has proven to be very successful. Slovenia, Croatia and Albania became the NATO members. Two aforementioned being EU Member States. For four years already, we have been successfully conducting the negotiations for membership in the EU. The realistic perspective is open for other countries to be a part of these integration processes.

We were hoping that the end of the Cold War and intensofying the process of uniting of Europe would mean a cessation of peril from new armed conflicts. There were some opinions that the historical mission of NATO was over with, since it has been managing to continuously transform its strategy and doctrine and adjust it to the challenges of the time; to implement its three core tasks – collective defense, crisis management and cooperative security, and to promote the values of democracy, human rights and freedoms as well as rule of law and to vitally contribute to the longest period of peace in Europe after World War II. However, today we see that such prognoses were unfounded. The Euro-Atlantic area is facing new threats and challenges which are more diverse, complex and more dangerous than in the time of the Cold War. The Alliance is at the turning point once again. The number and unpredictability of these challenges is unprecedented in the entire history. They emanate from the East and from the South - North Africa and Middle East. Whether in the form of migration or conventional military and terrorist threats by state and non-state actors, or in the form of hybrid or cyber-attacks. Destabilization of Ukraine and violation of its territorial integrity have made the situation particularly complicated. All of this has put to a test not only the defense and military capacities but also the national resilience and ability to counter threats. Democratic values which are the foundation of our societies are also put to a test. Also, our individual and collective responsibility to defend these values, to foster and promote them. It surpasses the physical boundaries of our positioning. We are witnesses how fast the seemingly someone elses problems, even those geographically far away, are becoming our own. There is no one who can survive on its own. That is why “projecting of stability” and the 360 degree approach of the Alliance are rightfully the key priority of this Summit. It turns out to be realistic that NATO cannot maintain its security only by protecting its citizens and territory; it must direct its actions towards the challenges outside of its borders; and counter them in coordination with the UN, EU, regional and other international community stakeholders.

It is precisely for these reasons that I am certain that the open door policy, in addition to the partnership policy and cooperative security, must remain a framework for NATO’s activities. As one of the best and most efficient ways to promote peace and security. Openness of the Alliance for cooperation with others who share its values and for admission of new members have proven to be a powerful mechanism for encouraging democratic reforms and strengthening of stability. And thereby, for strengthening of the Alliance and global peace. Furthermore, the best confirmation of this is that the NATO Summit is being held in Warsaw. Poland and the CEE countries are an example of how successful this process has been. Former members of the Warsaw Pact, which were burdened by the heritage of communist past, as well as the countries of the Western Balkans, have transformed themselves through the process of integration into the EU and NATO and are transforming themselves into stable democracies and prosperous economies. That is the first indicator of how NATO spreads stability in practice. We saw it for ourselves in the Balkans, not only by acceding of some countries to the NATO and EU, but also through the presence of the Alliance for the sake of preserving peace in the times of crisis, from Bosnia and Herzegovina to Kosovo.

The process of enlargement is irreplaceable in terms of the endeavors of the Alliance towards promotion of peace and reinforcing of security, which is confirmed by the example of Montenegro. Somewhat more than half a year ago, we were invited from a ministerial level to start accession to the Alliance as the 29th member state. That historic event for my country was the result of many years of work on comprehensive reforms during the first decade since restoration of independence. We continue to implement reforms with undiminished enthusiasm. We are glad that the member states have recognized the commitment of Montenegro to realization of the vision of European and Euro-Atlantic future, and that they see in it a reliable partner in preservation and promotion of common values. We therefore expect that the process of ratification of the Acession protocol with Montenegro will be conducted in member states efficiently, in realistic timeframe. Membership in NATO is a natural step for modern Montenegro, a civilizational choice of the today’s generations which supersedes the levels of daily politics, and even the current security issues. That is a fruit of the genuine belief that belonging to the family of Euro-Atlantic countries represents the best choice for our people as well as for the future and durable stability of the region. That is a choice of values which we share with the Alliance, based on which we are building a modern Montenegrin society.

As a future member state, Montenegro stands ready to take over a part of responsibility for the strenghtening of the Alliance, its unity and solidarity. Among other things, we see our role precisely in the segment of “projecting stability” in our own neighborhood, as an active and already proven promoter of regional cooperation, good neighborly relations, trust and peace in the Western Balkans. Membership in NATO will represent a new momentum for us, but also an obligation to act even more decisively in that direction. It will be a stimulus to be even more committed to fulfillment of obligations arising from the negotiating process with the EU. The fact that we are the future member of the Alliance on its external borders, that we are a state which very well understands the positions of those who are outside the security umbrella of NATO gives us a unique opportunity for the promotion of Euro-Atlantic values in a wider context. An invitation to Montenegro and the upcoming membership is an encouragement and motivation primarily for our neighbors but also for the others, a real contribution to strenghtening of the still fragile stability in the strategically important area of the Balkans. Encouragement to the progressive forces to continue even more vigorously along the democratic path. Spreading of stability in the Balkans is of importance for Europe, and for the entire Euro-Atlantic community. By promoting stability in its immediate vicinity, Montenegro will contribute to the expansion of the zone of stability in the Mediterranean, and more broadly, in the southern flank of the Alliance. At the same time, Montenegro will contribute to strenghtening of deterrence and defense and resilience of the Alliance. Montenegro is at the table of the Summit, where the Alliance is considering further actions from within and outside, towards the East and the South, as well as important cooperation with the EU with which it shares the complementary goals. That will be an opportunity to confirm that we are ready not only to reap the benefits of membership but also to take on a part of the burden as a future member.

The mission of NATO is not over, it is continuing and changing, following the development of the political and security situation in the Euro-Atlantic area and its surroundings. It is becoming more versatile and complex. In the past, the main role of NATO was reduced to the military dimension in the Euro-Atlantic area. Today, articulating of political responses to global challenges, when it comes to the military and economy and energy as well as cyber-security and other challenges. A successful answer to these challenges requires, more than ever, a complex, joint and consistent program. Montenegro will, as a future member, gear all of these activities precisely to that goal.

Thank you for your attention!