Minister Nuhodžić opens field exercise: Montenegro establishes more effective citizens protection system as NATO member

"When NATO is mentioned, the military component of the Alliance is usually thought of. However, NATO focuses a significant part of its potential on the protection and rehabilitation of disasters. It is an activity that is often forgotten. This exercise is also an opportunity to point out this dimension of NATO. We will continue to make every effort, as a system, to make our citizens safer and more secure in protection against various types of natural and other disasters, " Minister of the Interior Mevludin Nuhodžić said at the opening of the NICS MONTENEGRO 2019 Field Exercise, which is being held under NATO's Science for Peace and Security Programme.

The Minister said that the exercise was an opportunity to further enhance regional cooperation and to confirm good neighbourly relations and good communication in the area of protection and rescue. "I believe that this exercise is the proof that the Ministry of the Interior's Emergency Directorate is a credible partner in the implementation of numerous NATO-funded projects, and the state of Montenegro is a respected member of the Alliance," Nuhodžić said.

Furthermore, the Minister expressed gratitude to the NATO Science for Peace and Security Programme, which has allocated EUR 831,000 to Montenegro for the implementation of the exercise. "What is particularly important is that for the first time in Montenegro, a new Internet system will be used, the so-called NICS system or a new information system for management and coordination in protection and rescue. This software will integrate with the existing national system and help decision makers to make better decisions in emergency situations through images and videos, ”emphasised Nuhodžić.

Eyup Turmus, one of the leaders of the Science for Peace and Security Programme, said he was pleased that Montenegro recognised the importance of capacity building in the area of emergency situations. "This system will allow Montenegro and other participating countries to exchange information much faster, compared to the traditional way of communication," said Turmus. He also pointed to the significant contribution of young scientists and researchers in Montenegro, who created the 112 mobile phone application, which enabled citizens and tourists to have access to all emergency services if needed.

The topic of the NICS MONTENEGRO 2019 Field Exercise, which is being held in Podgorica and Danilovgrad from 1 to 04 October 2019, is the extinguishing of open-air fires and the testing of state-of-the-art information technologies for coordination and management in protection and rescue. In addition to NATO representatives, teams from North Macedonia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro participate in the exercise. Representatives of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology also play a significant role.

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