“Montenegro should join NATO”

Montenegrin Defense Minister Boro Vučinić says the country should become NATO member despite strong public opposition to the move.

Izvor: BIRN

Saturday, 16.06.2007.

10:33

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“Montenegro should join NATO”

While presenting the National Defense Strategy adopted by the government on Thursday, Vucinic said that possible regional instability might have effects on Montenegro.

"A war is a possibility, but not a likely option in Montenegro," Vučinić said.

He added that the country is more endangered by the possibility of terrorist attacks, organized crime, and corruption than by a possible escalation of a regional conflict, stating that "Terrorism is the most dangerous threat to the stability of Montenegro."

The latest opinion poll indicates a lack of popular support for Montenegro`s NATO aspirations, with almost 40 percent of the public against joining.

Only 33 percent of Montenegrins support the country’s NATO integration efforts, while 27 percent remain undecided.

"We have to prepare public opinion and also reach a wider consensus on future NATO membership," Vučinić said.

Montenegro has already joined NATO`s Partnership for Peace program, considered a stepping stone toward full membership. It also signed the Status of Forces Agreement with the United States, opening its borders for the stationing of American military troops.

Montenegro, a country of 620,000, maintains a small professional army of only 2,500 troops. It recently urged young men to join the military in order to replace many Serbian soldiers who returned home in 2006 after Montenegro gained independence from Serbia.

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