WORLD NEWS FOR MONTENEGRO DIASPORA
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Source: POBJEDA / M.J.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that he was grateful to Montenegro on which he contributes to the important NATO mission, and stated that NATO remains committed to the region. He is at a press conference with Montenegrin Prime Minister Milojka Spajić, said Montenegro contributes to peace in the Western Balkans.
Montenegro also plays an important role in the Western Balkans, a region of strategic importance for NATO. I welcome your strong commitment to reforms and the path of Montenegro to full Euro-Atlantic integration, and this is even more important because stability in the wider region remains fragile - said Stoltenberg.
Stoltenberg said he welcomed the support of Montenegro Ukraine, including through a comprehensive NATO assistance package.
But NATO allies and the European Union must strengthen and provide even more funds for Ukraine at this critical moment. Because if Putin wins Ukraine, there is a realistic risk that he will reuse the force - stated Stoltenberg.
Prime Minister Milojko Spajić is grateful to Stoltenberg on strong leadership and leading alliance during severe time for the world.
Spajic said Montenegro remains a reliable ally NATO.
We jointly concluded that Montenegro actively contributes to the key tasks of NATO and the collective defense in general. We confirmed our presence in the east, in Latvia, Bulgaria, in Iraq and Kosovo. I also reaffirmed our solid commitment to continue to support Ukraine for as long as it takes in its struggle for sovereignty and implementation of the EU and NATO's journey and NATO - said the Prime Minister.
Spajic said they were razored about the situation in the Western Balkans.
As a region of strategic importance, we agreed that the Balkans remain among the priority areas of NATO. Montenegro, as a member of NATO for almost 7 years, understands that many global events require constant attention to the ally and right, but should not be lost from Vida Region, stolitating that Stoltenberg has presented the importance of maintaining the presence and interest NATO.
This is a solid guarantee of peace and stability. Montenegro expects to be reaffirmed at the next NATO summit in Washington - said the Prime Minister.
Spajić said that in the budget for 2024, 2.01% of GDP for defense envisaged, of which 35.24% for modernization.
Montenegro will continue to implement all obligations arising from membership, including contribution to deterring and defense policies, strengthening the goals, as well as through participation in missions and operations. In this way, we contribute to the capacity of the Alliance to face numerous and complex challenges - Concludes Spajić.
Montenegro's interest stable and peaceful Balkans
Spajić is questionable about the possibility that Montenegro strengthened its presence in the missions in the region and the east wing of the Alliance, said the stability of the Balkans from the largest importance for Montenegro.
It is absolutely clear why we emphasize and why we think that is so important for Montenegro, because we are in the heart of the Western Balkans. We are surrounded by the Western Balkans and in our deep national interest is that the Western Balkans are peaceful, prosperous, that there is no foreign malignant influence and that it has the opportunity to become a real part of the Democratic and help the region to step out in economic and democratic sense - he stated Spajić.
And speaking about the presence in Kosovo, Spajić says that we are "already very present in Kosovo"
We are ready to strengthen our position in Kosovo. We think that the situation has recently calmed down, but as we talked, we are always ready to help, and in our deep national interest to maintain peace in Kosovo. The same goes for Bosnia and Herzegovina. Our unwavering commitment to the territorial integrity and peace of Bosnia and Herzegovina is of the utmost importance for Montenegro. We share a large border with Bosnia and Herzegovina, so we are definitely ready to be a credible ally in NATO in any form - said Spajić.
Respect the internationally recognized borders of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Stolenberg reiterated that the Western Balkans are great importance to NATO.
We have history, we have the presence, because peace and stability in the region are important for NATO. And that is why we were very worried when we saw an increase in violence and tensions during last year with some very serious incidents, especially in Kosovo. And this led to the decision of our military commanders to strengthen KFOR peacekeeping mission in Kosovo from an additional 1,000 soldiers. Because NATO must be ready to ensure that we meet the UN mandate to have stability and freedom of movement for all communities in Kosovo - repeated Stoltenberg.
All actors in Bosnia and Herzegovina, he called for, as he said, refrain from flammable rhetoric.
They must respect territorial integrity and internationally recognized borders of Bosnia and Herzegovina - stoltenberg stated.
Stoltenberg: Hungary Parliament at the end of February about the accession of the Swedish NATO
Stoltenberg is, questionable, when Munator's parliament can be expected to ratify the agreement on the accession of the Swedish Union, said that the membership of that country will erect the Alliance stronger.
That is why I welcome that Montenegro was very rapidly ratified and accepted Sweden to our Alliance. I welcome the decision of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey to ratify, as President Erdogan signed the Parliament's decision last night. I talked to Hungarian Prime Minister Orban before this week. He very clearly said that the Accession of Swedish NATO is supported, and the parliament is clearly addressed as soon as it will meet, and the message is that it will then support the ratification of Swedish membership. The message I received from Budapest is that the parliament will meet again at the end of February, so we must wait for that, but I am absolutely convinced and counting on Hungary to ratify that agreement soon - stoltenberg stated.
