By Baron Henri Estramant.
Brussels, 2 December 2015: NATO has formally invited Montenegro to join the military alliance, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.
The move is likely to displease Russia, which views NATO expansion as a threat to its security. Montenegro began on a path to join the alliance in 2009. The formal invitation marks the beginning of accession talks. Montenegrin Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, Dr. Igor Lukšić said the NATO invitation was “a positive signal for all of the Western Balkans.”It can take up to 18 months for a country to formally join yet it is expected that accession talks will go quickly.
Montenegro already supports NATO’s efforts in Afghanistan and has actively cooperated with the alliance in other ways.
NATO expects Montenegro to make progress on reforms “especially in the area of rule of law.” During the accession talks, NATO says it will engage Montenegro in alliance activities.
Membership to NATO is voluntary and open to European democracies willing and able to contribute to Western security. Aside from Montenegro, three further countries are partnering with NATO and are interested in becoming members, namely Georgia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Macedonia. The latter two were, like Montenegro, once a part of former Yugoslavia.
In Brussels the newly arrived head of mission of Montenegro is Ambassador Vladimir Radulović who shall also be accredited to the three Benelux countries and the OPCW. Until then Minister Tatjana Raspopović continues to serve as chargée d’affairs.
Before his appointment to Brussels, Ambassador Radulović had been State Secretary for Political Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration since 2012. He has served as ambassador to the Kingdom of Denmark (2004-2006) and to the Federal Republic of Germany (2008-2012)
For more information:
Relations NATO-Montenegro: www.nato.int/
