Minister of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro Milan Roćen and Defense Minister Boro Vučinić met tonight with the Secretary General of NATO Anders Fogh Rasmussen, who visited Montenegro.

Rasmussen commended Montenegro for its progress and results in fulfilling obligations in the process of Euro-Atlantic integrations, as well as for reforms achieved on its path toward NATO membership. Reaffirming the importance of regional cooperation, he pointed out Montenegro’s role in strengthening the stability of the region. Rasmussen said NATO had already had an important role in the region, and emphasized that the European and Euro-Atlantic perspective of the Western Balkan was certain, which was the best guarantee of the stability of Europe.

Ministers Roćen and Vučinić said they very much appreciated the first visit of NATO’s Secretary General to Montenegro, which represented a recognition and encouragement for fulfilling future obligations on our path towards NATO membership. They thanked for the assistance and support provided by the NATO administration, and informed about Government’s activities in this process. They reiterated Montenegro’s readiness to contribute to finding solutions for global challenges, in accordance with its possibilities.

Ministers Roćen and Vučinić expressed confidence that Montenegro’s performance in implementing programs from the Partnership for Peace would be rightfully assessed at the forthcoming meeting of the NATO member countries in Brussels.

Secretary General Rasmussen reaffirmed NATO’s commitment to the “open door” policy and underlined NATO’s appreciation for Montenegro’s decision to contribute to the collective security by contributing its troops to the ISAF peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan.