Podgorica, (MINA) - Montenegro is a valued member of the transatlantic family that promotes peace and stability throughout the Western Balkans, a region of great strategic importance for NATO, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said.

 

Speaking at a press conference with Montenegrin Prime Minister Milojko Spajic at Villa Gorica, Rutte recalled that nearly nine years have passed since the Montenegrin flag was first displayed at the NATO headquarters.

 

He added that since then, Montenegro has been a valued member of NATO, with 31 friends and allies, which ensure that the country is safe and secure.

 

 

He pointed out that Montenegro not only benefits from NATO’s security guarantees, but also contributes to joint missions, adding that it deploys troops to NATO’s Enhanced Forward Presence in Latvia and Bulgaria, as well as that the country participates in the KFOR mission in Kosovo.

 

Speaking about the Western Balkans, Rutte emphasized that NATO sees that region as strategically important, but also susceptible to destabilization.

 

He said that NATO is committed to preserving stability and countering threats, and praised Montenegro for already allocating more than two percent of its GDP to defense.

 

Spajic said that Montenegro has made significant progress in strengthening its defense capabilities and remains a committed ally of the Alliance.

 

“The capacities of our army have been significantly strengthened in recent years and the citizens see that. According to the latest European Commission survey, published a week ago, trust in the army is at a historical high of 78 percent. We have to be proud of that”, Spajic said.

 

He pointed out that Montenegro plans to continue investing in the defense and modernization of the army.

 

 

 

Speaking about the role of Montenegro in the region, Spajic emphasized that it can significantly contribute to the stability of the Western Balkans.

 

“We may be the only country in Europe without an ethnic majority, but that is not a weakness, but our strength. From that position, we can contribute significantly to the Western Balkans by easing tensions, connecting and improving mutual understanding”, said Spajic.

 

Answering a journalist’s question regarding the future of NATO while US President Donald Trump is questioning the level of US engagement within the Alliance, Rutte stated that the European members heard the US president’s message and responded to it.

 

He recalled that some member states have not yet reached the goal of 2 percent GDP defense allocation, but that an agreement was reached on a long-term increase in allocations to five percent.

 

Rutte pointed out that “NATO is extremely strong at this moment”, adding that the focus of the upcoming summit will be on Ukraine and the strengthening industrial capacities on both sides of the Atlantic.

 

When asked if he expected the ad hoc group for drafting of Montenegro’s Accession Treaty, which starts work on Wednesday, to finish its work within the deadline, Spajic said that “everything that is good is not easy”.

 

“It won’t be easy. We are here and we are looking forward to all the remaining steps towards our membership”, said Spajic.

 
 

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