Bošković: Integration of Western Balkans countries into European and Euro-Atlantic structures can provide long-term stability in region

Vienna, Austria (8 February 2017) -- Minister of Defence Predrag Bošković participated today in the meeting of Ministers of Defence and Interior under the initiative Central European Defence Cooperation (CEDC+) and the Salzburg Forum. The meeting brought together ministers of those departments from Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Croatia, Slovenia, Slovakia, Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, Macedonia, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Serbia and Kosovo.

The meeting was held with the aim of understanding of contemporary security challenges and analyses of the current migrant crisis with a focus on the Western Balkans region. This was an opportunity for the representatives of the CEDC Member States and the Salzburg Forum to meet with counterparts from the Southeast Europe, to initiate the development of the Action Plan with agreed mechanisms which would be activated in case of new migration waves and sustainable closing of immigration route in the Western Balkans, as well as the definition of common measures to combat illegal migration.

On this occasion, Minister Bošković said that the wave of migrant crisis that shook Europe did not hit Montenegro, but that Montenegro will follow the EU policy and adapt its mechanisms to a given situation. He informed the participants about the recently adopted Law on Amendments to the Law on Defence of Montenegro, which defines the use of units of the Army of Montenegro in support of the police in protecting the state border within the national territory, in crisis situations.

The Minister pointed out that Montenegro, as a reliable partner of the international community, is ready to stand side by side with the European partners, and in accordance with its capacity to contribute to the preservation of peace and security, not only in the region, but also beyond. He stressed that the regional and international exchange of information and intelligence is of great importance for providing an adequate response to the challenges, such as the migrant crisis.

„Montenegro strongly believes that only the integration of the Western Balkans countries into European and Euro-Atlantic structures can provide a long-term stability in the region“, Bošković said in his speech, stressing that „it is crucial to keep a clear European perspective for the region, given that the stability of the Western Balkans is of essential importance for the stability of the European Union as a whole“.