Minister Kotromanović attends NAC in Defence Ministers format

During the first day the Ministerial addressed NATO’s defence capabilities and the domains where the need for additional efforts has been identified. The emphasis was placed on the Connected Forces Initiative, stronger partnerships, building of defence capabilities, cyber defence and enhanced maritime security. The Ministers were briefed on the assessed progress in key defence areas as well as on the observed capabilities shortfalls and the suggestions for improvements in the priority areas.

In his address the Croatian Minister emphasised that the Alliance members’ participation in NATO initiatives and projects has evidently reinforced NATO’s defence capabilities,  not precluding the need for further efforts to provide for the undersufficient capabilities throught the existing multinational mechanisms and the solidarity among the member countries and setting the priorities, particularly with regard to the defence budget cuts.

The agenda for Thursday 27 February 2014 features the discussion on the progress in preparation for the Resolute Support, the new NATO mission in Afghanistan,  based on the outline on the situation in the country from the operational and political aspects. The Ministers will also consider the transitional Transfer of Authority for the security situation to the Afghan Security Forces, and the preparations for the presidential elections due in April 2014.

The Meeting, with the expected participation of the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton, the Defence Minister of Afghanistan, Bismillah Khan Mohammadja and the UN Secretary General’ Special Representative for Afghanistan, Jan Kubiš, constitutes an important preparatory activity for the forthcoming summit to be held in Wales, UK on 4 and 5 September 2014.

In the margins of the Meeting there will be a US-Adriatic Charter ministers meeting, as a strategic-level opportunity to exchange experiences on the regional co-operation within the Initiative up to now and to consider the prospects for future development of its members through participating in NATO-led operations and projects.

Also on the margins, the Ministry of Defence of Montenegro, the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Croatia and the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe are to conclude a Memorandum of Understanding concerning the integration of Montenegro into the NATO’s Air Situation Data Exchange (ASDE) programme.