Bošković: Experience in Euro-Atlantic process is of great importance for European integration

Minister of Defence Predrag Bošković participated in the panel "The Western Balkans Chessboard", within the framework of the GLOBSEC Forum, held in Bratislava from 17 to 19 May.

At the beginning of his presentation, the Minister said that the Balkan region, which is different from other regions in terms of diversity and specificity, will always be an inexhaustible forum topic such as GLOBSEC.

If the Balkans is perceived as a chessboard, then all actors should have the same goal - integration into European and Euro-Atlantic structures, the Minister said. In this context, Minister Bošković spoke on the mentioned topic from the aspect of the results Montenegro achieved.

"Precisely on the basis of our experience and the fact that, on the path of Euro-Atlantic integration, we have upgraded the defence and the entire national system, I would like to encourage all the other countries of this region to follow our path," Bošković said. He added that the presence of NATO and the EU is the best guarantor of the stability of the Balkans.

Speaking about the experience of Montenegro, Minister Bošković informed the participants of the panel that, after eleven years of Euro-Atlantic integration, we achieved significant results in the field of achieving NATO criteria and standards, carrying out tasks from the NATO agenda and adapting our system to the values of the Euro-Atlantic community. He emphasised that Montenegro today has a small but very efficient army whose members are capable, trained and ready to face security challenges, both in the national and international fields.

Minister added the experiences that we have gained on the Euro-Atlantic path will be of great importance in the process of European integration.

He concluded that each of the Balkan actors should act responsibly in relation to the prosperity of the region and choose wisely what kind of future they want for their countries and societies. Montenegro chose to develop prosperity and security through membership in the two most modern, mutually complementary organizations. "In this context, Montenegro is using every opportunity, through its example, to promote the idea of integrating the entire Western Balkan region into the family of European countries gathered in Brussels. Only in this way can a chessboard known as the Western Balkans become the site of a party in which none of the players can be at a loss," Bošković said.