This region can become completely stable by full integration with the Western Balkans and its NATO membership. We should commit to economic development and improvement of social status of the citizens of Montenegro, said Minister of Defense, Predrag Bošković, in the interview with the Television Kosovo 2, during his official visit to Priština.
He pointed out that Montenegro and Kosovo have good relations and that Montenegro is ready to help Kosovo on its European and Euro-Atlantic way.
By participating in the peace action of KFOR, Montenegro contributes to the stability of this region.
“This visit was planned in order to show our friend in Kosovo what it looked like when Montenegro was going through very demanding but very important journey of reforms in order to meet the standards requires by all 28 EU Member States. We wanted to indicate the obstacles they might face so that they can avoid making mistakes we made. The question of the stability of the region is very important, since all Western Balkans countries are interrelated, and instability in one of them causes the instability in others. With stable cooperation with the countries from the Region, we believe we can move forward”, said Bošković.
As NATO member, Montenegro became part of the regional security structures with two Montenegrin officers being part of their missions. Montenegrin soldiers also take part in peace missions under the auspices of the EU and UN, in Afghanistan, Mali, Somalia, and Montenegro is proud of that.
“Last year, we increased the participation in the missions by 60%. Abilities of a soldier today are at much higher level than 12 years ago, and I am sure we will keep contributing to peace missions as much as we can. Montenegro is number 1 among 29 NATO members with 27% of soldiers who were part of missions#, said Bošković.
Bošković thinks that NATO accession was a correct decision.
“This way, Montenegro provided long-term stability and safety. We are part of the strongest military but also political organization in the world and for the domicile population that means guarantee of human rights and respect of all other rights”, said the Minister.
