Following last June first plenary meeting of Intensified Dialogue between Montenegro and NATO — during which Assistant Foreign Minister Mrs. Dragana Radulović deposited the documents of Montenegro-NATO Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP) — today, on Wednesday November 5, 2008, the Prime Minister of Montenegro, H.E. Mr. Milo Đukanović, on working visit to NATO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, handed over to the organisation’s Secretary-General, Mr. Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, Montenegro’s formal application for NATO’s Membership Action Plan (MAP) — the organisation’s program of advice, assistance and practical support to countries aspiring to join the Alliance.

The MAP — launched in April 1999 at the Alliance’s Washington Summit to help candidate countries to NATO membership in their preparations — is designed as a “global assistance package” covering all political, economic, defence, resource, security and legal aspects. At present, three countries are members of the MAP, i.e. Albania, Croatia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

This working meeting was also the occasion for Prime Minister Đukanović and Mr. de Hoop Scheffer to analyse together the latest regional developments, notably the growing ethnic tensions and resurfacing political divisions in Bosnia, and Belgrade’s response to both Montenegro and Macedonia’s recognition of Kosovo independence. On the occasion, the Montenegrin Prime Minister expressed his clear views that “the solution to regional tensions rising is in granting membership to all these countries,” according to him the only one way to durably consolidate peace and stability in the Western Balkans.

On leaving NATO Headquarters to attend his next meeting with the European Union High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), Mr. Javier Solana, Prime Minister Đukanović declared himself “optimistic regarding Montenegro’s application”, adding that “unlike some political circles in Europe, NATO is hopefully not tired with enlargement! I expect Montenegro to join MAP by the NATO Summit in Strasbourg and Kehl in April 2009.”

During his working visit to Brussels, the Prime Minister of Montenegro was accompanied by H.E. Mr. Milan Roćen, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Montenegro.

Yesterday, on Tuesday November 4, the Safety and Defence Commission of the Parliament of Montenegro supported the Government’s proposition of “Strategy of National Security of Montenegro”. The ruling coalition voted for the proposition, while Deputies Mr. Velizar Kaluđerović, Head of the Parliamentary Group SNP, and Dr. Goran Batrićević, Vice-President of PzP, were against. The Montenegrin Defence Minister H.E. Mr. Boro Vučinić, declared that the “strategic goal of Montenegro is to become NATO and EU member as soon as possible.”
The proposition of “Strategy of National Security of Montenegro” will be discussed by the Parliament during its session session to start on Tuesday November 25.

The same day, during a meeting with Prime Minister Đukanović, S.E. Mr. Bernard Garancher, French Ambassador to Podgorica, said that “Montenegro has made evident progress towards meeting Euro-Atlantic standards, and has no obstacles on its path to NATO’s MAP.”

Website to visit:
 Governmental portal for Euro-Atlantic integration of Montenegro.