Bozinovic – Regional cooperation is condition for Euro-Atlantic integration

“Multinational defence cooperation is a natural response to the reduction of available resources and changes in European security architecture, and European countries already share and exchange their defensive skills as a way of bridging the reduced defence budgets and insufficient capacities”, Minister Bozinovic said. “I am convinced that we have the great potential for development of joint defence capabilities through multinational approach in Southeast Europe”, Bozinovic said. The Minister particularly pointed the continuing interest in the region in strengthening regional defence cooperation – through joint efforts in support of ISAF in Afghanistan, through the US-Adriatic Charter (A5), which represents a confirmation of our political will, through solidarity and capacity for effective mutual cooperation. “EU and NATO membership is the best way for fundamental transformation of the region and we strongly support the open-door policy of Euro-Atlantic institutions, and our joint efforts, including strengthening of military cooperation should be focused on achieving our shared aspirations of the broad regional security, stability and prosperity “, Bozinovic concluded.

The meeting was opened today in Budva by Montenegro’s President Filip Vujanovic, who said that Montenegro as a country had a strategic goal of integration into European and Euro-Atlantic structures, and a country committed to its constructive attitude and actions to contribute to the stability and security. Vujanovic expressed his belief that this meeting would serve as a reliable guideline for further progress and even more decisive results, and that the cooperation in all areas including the area of defence should be constant in our relations.

Besides President Vujanovic and the host – Minister of Defence of Montenegro Boro Vucinic, the meeting was attended by defence ministers of Albania – Arben Imami, Bosnia and Herzegovina – Selmo Cikotic Croatia – Davor Bozinovic, Macedonia – Zoran Konjanovski, Serbia – Dragan Sutanovac and Turkey – Mehmet Vecdi Gonul, state secretaries or assistant or deputy defence ministers from Bulgaria, Greece, Romania and Slovenia, as well as senior representatives from NATO, OSCE, RCC and RACVIAC.