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Taking part in NATO missions will be mandatory for Montenegrin soldiers

The Government of Montenegro adopted the Proposal Amendments to the Law on the Use of the Units of the Armed Forces of Montenegro in the international forces and the participation of the members of the civil protection, police and state administration authorities in the peacekeeping missions and other activities abroad. The proposed amendments stipulate that the participation of the members of the Armed Forces of Montenegro in the missions, responses to crisis and missions within the humanitarian operations be mandatory.

Up until now, the principle of volunteerism has been applied in the participation in missions.

“In order for some Armed Forces member to be sent to some international mission, the first step is applying for the announcement of the Ministry of Defense”, explained the representatives of the Ministry.

“The reason why the Army can’t send some unit is that the unit lacks a couple of individuals.That brings its occupancy into question and, consequently, the operation capacity for the fulfillment of the deferred task”.

That’s why the procedure for the amendment to the existing law has been initiated.

“The amendments will enable that a whole unit can be sent into a mission, provided that all the members had previously been trained for the joint fulfillment of the task”, said the representatives of the Ministry.

The Proposal Law on the Amendments to this law also defines that a member of the Armed Forces, operation protection unit, or any member of the unit in charge, will have right to claim for the compensation of the damage caused in case they get injured or wounded during the participation in the mission or during training session.

If Montenegro sends two officers in Iraq in the second half of 2019, that will be the fourth participation of Montenegro into the  NATO peacekeeping missions, besides those where it takes part under the auspices of the EU.

Montenegro sent the first troupes to the international peacekeeping mission ISAF, in Afghanistan which in 2014 became Resolute Support.

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