Defence Minister Naď: Today Montenegro is a very important, valid, well-respected and responsible NATO partner
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- Date: 13.09.2022
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Meeting at the Ministry of Defence in Bratislava today, Slovak Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď and Montenegrin Defence Minister Raška Konjević have reaffirmed long-term and close ties between the SVK and MNE MODs. It is on these ties that they want to drive cooperation on Armed Forces modernisation, training and defence industry into the future.
Jaroslav Naď said: “Slovakia considers the Western Balkan region to be of great importance to the security and stability of the whole of Europe. Despite the Russian Federationʼs coup attempt against Montenegro in 2016, I am pleased that Montenegro has completed its NATO integration path positively and that today it is a very important, valid, well-respected and responsible NATO partner.” He went on to say that Slovakia will do the maximum to speed up Montenegro's accession to the European Union.
Raška Konjević confirmed that Montenegro and Slovakia are bound by a long-lasting good quality relationship, saying: “The support and assistance the Slovak Republic has provided to us canʼt be appreciated enough, even today when we are in the process of integrating into the European Union.”
The ministers agreed that Montenegro's decision to enter the NATO Alliance was the right step ahead. “Nevertheless, the Western Balkans remains a vulnerable region, one that is still learning its lessons on democracy, which is why it is important it is politically stable and oriented towards the West,” Minister Konjević added.
The consequences of the war and the current situation in Ukraine were high on the agenda of the meeting. 8-10% of the SVK and MNE defence budgets have gone towards bolstering Ukraine's defences and the war against the Russian Federation.
Referring to the recent major cyber assault on Montenegro and the efforts to influence Slovakia including by spreading Russian untruths and propaganda via media channels, Minister Naď informed that “Russia has been undertaking a range of activities geared towards changing the political system or the foreign policy and security direction of both our countries.”
Jaroslav Naď said: “Slovakia considers the Western Balkan region to be of great importance to the security and stability of the whole of Europe. Despite the Russian Federationʼs coup attempt against Montenegro in 2016, I am pleased that Montenegro has completed its NATO integration path positively and that today it is a very important, valid, well-respected and responsible NATO partner.” He went on to say that Slovakia will do the maximum to speed up Montenegro's accession to the European Union.
Raška Konjević confirmed that Montenegro and Slovakia are bound by a long-lasting good quality relationship, saying: “The support and assistance the Slovak Republic has provided to us canʼt be appreciated enough, even today when we are in the process of integrating into the European Union.”
The ministers agreed that Montenegro's decision to enter the NATO Alliance was the right step ahead. “Nevertheless, the Western Balkans remains a vulnerable region, one that is still learning its lessons on democracy, which is why it is important it is politically stable and oriented towards the West,” Minister Konjević added.
The consequences of the war and the current situation in Ukraine were high on the agenda of the meeting. 8-10% of the SVK and MNE defence budgets have gone towards bolstering Ukraine's defences and the war against the Russian Federation.
Referring to the recent major cyber assault on Montenegro and the efforts to influence Slovakia including by spreading Russian untruths and propaganda via media channels, Minister Naď informed that “Russia has been undertaking a range of activities geared towards changing the political system or the foreign policy and security direction of both our countries.”
