Delegation of the Senate of the Czech Republic in visit to the Ministry of Defense

State Secretary of the Ministry of Defense of Montenegro Slobodan Filipović, Director for Defense Policy, Ivica Ivanović, met today with the eight-member delegation of the Parliament of the Czech Republic Senate, represented by the deputies of the Committee for EU Affairs and the Committee for Foreign Affairs, Defense and Security.

Senator Václav Hampl, Chairman of the Committee for EU, congratulated the representatives of the Ministry of Defense of Montenegro on exceptional contribution in achieving Montenegrin political priorities, such as membership in NATO, and stressed that this does not bring the benefit only for our country, but for the entire European community. And emphasized that Montenegro is seen as a factor of stability in the Balkans, and expressed his belief that our country will soon become a full member of the EU, what is unconditionally supported by the Czech Republic.

Secretary Filipović said that the achieved success is the result of persistent work on reforming and modernizing the Montenegrin security and defense systems, as well as that a successful outcome was achieved with the help and support of NATO and the EU. He pointed out that Montenegro will strive for the preservation of peace and stability in the region, and for the promotion of the open door policy of the NATO. He emphasized that the future of the region is into the EU and NATO.

Director Ivanović informed the senators about the strategic development plans of the Ministry of Defense of Montenegro, as well as on the participation in international missions and operations of the Montenegrin Army, noting the intention to intensify the cooperation with the Czech Republic in the field of defense, which will primarily be carried out through the implementation of activities of the Bilateral Cooperation Plan for 2018, which will be soon prepared.

As a part of the Czech Republic delegation, in addition to Senator Hampl, were Senator Jaroslav Doubrava, Deputy Chairman of the Committee, Senator Vladimír Plaček, Deputy Chairman of the Committee, Senator Libor Michálek, a member of the Committee, Senator František Bublan, chairman of the Committee for Foreign Affairs, Defense and Security, Senator Tomáš Jirsa , Deputy Chairman of the Committee, Senator Zdeněk Brož, Deputy Chairman of the Committee, Senator Lubomír Franc, a member of the Committee.