Showing posts with label Montenegro. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Montenegro. Show all posts
Saturday, October 28, 2023
Prime Minister of Montenegro Visits Ecumenical Patriarchate
On 27 October 2023,His Excellency Dritan Abazovic,Prime Minister of Montenegro,visited the Ecumenical Patriarchate.In the absence of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew,who was visiting his beloved native island of Imvros,Turkey,where he likes to recover after a busy travel schedule,the Prime Minister was recieved by His Eminence Metropolitan Maximos of Selyvria and other members of the Patriarchal Court.Metropolitan Maximos informed Mr.Abazovic about the initiatives and ministry of the Holy Great Church of Christ in Constantinople.He also distributed commemorative gifts among the Prime Minister and his entourage.As well,His Excellency got a tour of the Patriarchal Church of St.George and its relics,the Patriarchate said in a news release.*Montenegro has a population of 624,484 as of 2023.It was a former Yugoslav republic.The country declared its independence in 2006 and joined NATO in 2017.Most Montenegrins self-identify as Montenegrins,having a strong sense of national identity.They speak a unique Serbo-Croatian dialect called Montenegrin.*
The predominant religion of Montenegro is Eastern Orthodoxy (88.7%)-predominantly Serbian Orthodoxy in the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral-with minorities of Muslims,Catholics and Atheists/Agnostics as well.*
Montenegro's European Union status is Screened Negotiating Candidacy with possible entry by 2025,providing all outstanding issues are resolved.
Wednesday, December 6, 2017
Foreign Ministerial:Iran,Iraq and Jordan Concern NATO - plus keeping the Alliance's door open
The NATO Foreign Ministerial has just drawn to a close after two days of meetings at the Alliance headquarters in Brussels.NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg summed the conference up for journalists gathered in Belgium:
We have just concluded a very good and productive meeting of the Foreign Ministers of NATO.We discussed NATO's role in projecting stability and fighting terrorism,because instability abroad threatens stability at home.From the Balkans to Afghanistan,NATO has great experience in training local forces and strengthening local institutions.These are the best tools to make our Partners better able to defend themselves and to combat international terrorism.This year,we started training local forces in Iraq in areas such as countering Improvised Explosive Devices;military medicine;equipment maintenance;and reform of the country's security intstitutions.In particular,I welcome the contributions that our Partners such as Serbia and Jordan are making to these efforts.
Today,Allies looked to the future of NATO's training activity in Iraq and expressed their full commitment to it.And a number of Allies announced that they will contribute to the new Crisis Management Centre in Jordan as part of NATO's new capacity-building package for Jordan,and I really welcome this contribution by several Allies.*
As we look ahead to the Brussels Summit in July,we discussed how to engage further with our Partners to the South and the East.We need to devote sufficient resources to these efforts to make the best of the skills and capabilities we have.We also discussed how our role within the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS should evolve as the Coalition moves from combat operations to stabilisation efforts.This is something that both the Coalition and the Iraqi government want.The Coalition has recovered over 95% of the territory claimed by ISIS and liberated seven million people;but we must consolidate these gains.We know that projecting stability and fighting terrorism are generational challenges.There are no quick fixes and no overnight solutions.We have made progress and we are determined to do more.*
Over lunch,we discussed NATO's Open Door Policy.We agreed that this is an historic success,which remains a key contributor to Euro-Atlantic Security.Successive rounds have secured peace and stability in Europe and paved the way for Euro-Atlantic integration.Montenegro's accession to the Alliance this year is the latest example.We also agreed that accession is a decision for aspirant countries and the 29 Allies.Nobody else has the right to veto.In preparation for our Summit next July,we will review the progress of each aspirant country by our next meeting of our Foreign Ministers in April.*
Additionally,Mr.Stoltenberg made a number of interesting comments in response to reporters' questions:
We are,of course,concerned by what we see as an effort by Iran to destabilise countries in the region.This is something many Allies in NATO have raised several times,and,of course,that's just adding arguments for us to continue to support and provide increased support to the Iraqi government.
We have just agreed a new defence capacity-building package with Jordan.Jordan is a highly valued Partner.Jordan is a kind of island of stability in a sea of instability in the region.NATO has been working with Jordan for many,many,many years,and a part of the defence capacity-building package we just agreed is this Crisis Management Centre in Jordan,where several Allies have announced that they are going to provide personnel support to use this Centre as a new tool in helping and supporting Jordan.We also have had different training activities at the King Abdullah Training Centre,and we also do capacity-building with Jordan when it comes to Women,Peace and Security to make sure that we recognise that women have a role to play in the Armed Forces of Jordan.Let me add that Jordan has also helped us in providing support for Iraq:we have also trained some Iraqi officers at the King Abdullah Training Centre.*
We are focused on infrastructure because we want to be able to move more troops more quickly,and that's exactly why we are working with the EU to make sure the infrastructure meets the requirements which are needed to move heavy equipment across Europe.This is about roads,railroads,ports,airports and that kind of infrastructure;but it's also about making sure that we have the means of transportation,that we have the trucks and the rail cars and all the other means of transportation that we need to move.And again,we have that today;but we need to scale up,we need to have more to make sure that we have all the assets available if we need to move heavy equipment very fast across Europe.We have started this process:we have started staff-to-staff talks with the EU to analyse gaps,to have a mapping exercise,and then,based on that,we will move forward together,NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told the journalists in Brussels.
We have just concluded a very good and productive meeting of the Foreign Ministers of NATO.We discussed NATO's role in projecting stability and fighting terrorism,because instability abroad threatens stability at home.From the Balkans to Afghanistan,NATO has great experience in training local forces and strengthening local institutions.These are the best tools to make our Partners better able to defend themselves and to combat international terrorism.This year,we started training local forces in Iraq in areas such as countering Improvised Explosive Devices;military medicine;equipment maintenance;and reform of the country's security intstitutions.In particular,I welcome the contributions that our Partners such as Serbia and Jordan are making to these efforts.
Today,Allies looked to the future of NATO's training activity in Iraq and expressed their full commitment to it.And a number of Allies announced that they will contribute to the new Crisis Management Centre in Jordan as part of NATO's new capacity-building package for Jordan,and I really welcome this contribution by several Allies.*
As we look ahead to the Brussels Summit in July,we discussed how to engage further with our Partners to the South and the East.We need to devote sufficient resources to these efforts to make the best of the skills and capabilities we have.We also discussed how our role within the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS should evolve as the Coalition moves from combat operations to stabilisation efforts.This is something that both the Coalition and the Iraqi government want.The Coalition has recovered over 95% of the territory claimed by ISIS and liberated seven million people;but we must consolidate these gains.We know that projecting stability and fighting terrorism are generational challenges.There are no quick fixes and no overnight solutions.We have made progress and we are determined to do more.*
Over lunch,we discussed NATO's Open Door Policy.We agreed that this is an historic success,which remains a key contributor to Euro-Atlantic Security.Successive rounds have secured peace and stability in Europe and paved the way for Euro-Atlantic integration.Montenegro's accession to the Alliance this year is the latest example.We also agreed that accession is a decision for aspirant countries and the 29 Allies.Nobody else has the right to veto.In preparation for our Summit next July,we will review the progress of each aspirant country by our next meeting of our Foreign Ministers in April.*
Additionally,Mr.Stoltenberg made a number of interesting comments in response to reporters' questions:
We are,of course,concerned by what we see as an effort by Iran to destabilise countries in the region.This is something many Allies in NATO have raised several times,and,of course,that's just adding arguments for us to continue to support and provide increased support to the Iraqi government.
We have just agreed a new defence capacity-building package with Jordan.Jordan is a highly valued Partner.Jordan is a kind of island of stability in a sea of instability in the region.NATO has been working with Jordan for many,many,many years,and a part of the defence capacity-building package we just agreed is this Crisis Management Centre in Jordan,where several Allies have announced that they are going to provide personnel support to use this Centre as a new tool in helping and supporting Jordan.We also have had different training activities at the King Abdullah Training Centre,and we also do capacity-building with Jordan when it comes to Women,Peace and Security to make sure that we recognise that women have a role to play in the Armed Forces of Jordan.Let me add that Jordan has also helped us in providing support for Iraq:we have also trained some Iraqi officers at the King Abdullah Training Centre.*
We are focused on infrastructure because we want to be able to move more troops more quickly,and that's exactly why we are working with the EU to make sure the infrastructure meets the requirements which are needed to move heavy equipment across Europe.This is about roads,railroads,ports,airports and that kind of infrastructure;but it's also about making sure that we have the means of transportation,that we have the trucks and the rail cars and all the other means of transportation that we need to move.And again,we have that today;but we need to scale up,we need to have more to make sure that we have all the assets available if we need to move heavy equipment very fast across Europe.We have started this process:we have started staff-to-staff talks with the EU to analyse gaps,to have a mapping exercise,and then,based on that,we will move forward together,NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told the journalists in Brussels.
Wednesday, May 18, 2016
The NATO Foreign Ministerial:Policy and Strategy for Europe and Beyond
The NATO Foreign Ministers meeting runs from 19-20 May in Brussels.NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg held a Pre-Ministerial news conference on Wednesday,outlining the topics to be discussed and the direction NATO policy on them is taking,and some strategic concepts for its implementation as well.*
Tomorrow we will welcome Montenegro Foreign Minister Dukanovic to sign the Accession Protocol,Mr.Stoltenberg announced in his prepared statement.Following that ceremony,Montenegro will,as of tomorrow,participate in all NATO meetings as an observer,or Invitee.Once all the Allies have ratified the Protocol,Montenegro will become the 29th member of the Alliance.A clear sign that NATO continues to help build stability and security in the Western Balkans.*
We will discuss what NATO can do to support Iraq.We are already training several hundred Iraqi officers in Jordan.We have received a request from Prime Minister al-Abadi to expand our training mission to Iraq itself.And we will consider that request from Prime Minister al-Abadi.*
We have already decided to enhance our forward presence in the eastern part of our Alliance.Our military planners have put forward proposals for several battalions in different countries in the region.No decision has been taken on the numbers and locations.But we are now considering the scale and the scope of our presence in the east.*
Our Ministerial meeting will begin exactly fifty days before we meet at our Summit in Warsaw.The decisions we take at this Ministerial meeting will help pave the way to the Summit.At the Summit,we will take the necessary decisions to protect our citizens at home and to project stability beyond our borders.*
Tomorrow is an historic day for the Alliance,for Montenegro and for the Western Balkans,Mr.Stoltenberg said in the Q&A session with reporters.It says that NATO's door is open.It's another step in the successful policy of enlargement of both NATO and the EU,and the enlargement of NATO over many years has contributed to stability,peace and security in Europe.And now Montenegro is going to be part of that.Any sanctions or reactions from Russia will be absolutely unjustified,because it's about respecting the sovereign decision of a sovereign nation,Montenegro,to decide on its own path-and that should be respected by everyone.*
NATO is not contemplating combat operations in Libya,but institution-building.We will continue to discuss how we can help them.*
Some of the proposals from our strategic commanders are for battalions in the Baltic countries.It has to be a multinational presence because it sends a very clear signal that an attack on one Ally will be an attack on the whole Alliance.The importance of this forward presence is not that it's going to be so very big,but that it is a multinational presence sending a very clear signal that we are going to stand united;and the forward presence has to be combined with the increased ability to reinforce if needed,so you have to also understand that the forward presence is linked to the high readiness,the higher responsiveness of our forces,and we have already decided to triple the size of the NATO Response Force-and part of that is the new Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF),or the Spearhead Force,a brigade-sized force which can deploy on a very short notice.Add to that that we are already investing in infrastructure;in prepositioning equipment;ammunition;and that the US is in the process of quadrupling its funding for the US presence in Europe:so this is a big thing altogether-a forward presence in the eastern part of our Alliance is just one element in a more comprehensive approach.*
We will decide on the future of the Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan beyond 2016,and will also decide on the funding for the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces.I think that NATO Allies providing funding is extremely important and we will continue to do so.*
I strongly believe that the Summit of NATO in July will recognise the progress that Georgia is making and will reiterate our strong commitment to provide both strong political support to Georgia;but also to provide practical support,working with Georgia to implement reforms,build institutions and to enhance Georgia's ability to modernise its armed forces.So we will continue to work with Georgia;we will continue to defend Georgia's right to make its own decisions;and we continue to work on reforms and help Georgia moving towards NATO membership.*
I have to tell you about the Minsk Agreement on Eastern Ukraine that of course I am concerned,because after we saw a lull in the fighting last year and the beginning of this year-I think the ceasefire was mostly respected-we have seen gradually an increase in the numbers of violations of the ceasefire,and that is undermining the whole Minsk Agreement because it is based on the ceasefire.So my message is,the ceasefire has to be respected;heavy weapons have to be withdrawn;and the international observers have to have full access to the area so they make sure that the Minsk Agreement is fully implemented.*
I'm really looking forward to the opening of a new NATO Training Centre in Kuwait and I visited the site of the facility.It's a big,big building where we're going to have different kinds of training,capacity-building activities for the region.And I think that's just one example of how we are increasing our cooperaton with the Gulf countries.*
In Turkey,we have positioned Patriot Missile batteries;AWACS aircraft;port visits by NATO ships.NATO member countries have bilateral agreements with Turkey to fly out of Incerlik Air Base.This is a very joint effort of NATO Allies and Turkey in the fight against ISIL and also providing the necessary assurance measures for Turkey,all at the same time,NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg pointed out to journalists in Brussels,Belgium.
Tomorrow we will welcome Montenegro Foreign Minister Dukanovic to sign the Accession Protocol,Mr.Stoltenberg announced in his prepared statement.Following that ceremony,Montenegro will,as of tomorrow,participate in all NATO meetings as an observer,or Invitee.Once all the Allies have ratified the Protocol,Montenegro will become the 29th member of the Alliance.A clear sign that NATO continues to help build stability and security in the Western Balkans.*
We will discuss what NATO can do to support Iraq.We are already training several hundred Iraqi officers in Jordan.We have received a request from Prime Minister al-Abadi to expand our training mission to Iraq itself.And we will consider that request from Prime Minister al-Abadi.*
We have already decided to enhance our forward presence in the eastern part of our Alliance.Our military planners have put forward proposals for several battalions in different countries in the region.No decision has been taken on the numbers and locations.But we are now considering the scale and the scope of our presence in the east.*
Our Ministerial meeting will begin exactly fifty days before we meet at our Summit in Warsaw.The decisions we take at this Ministerial meeting will help pave the way to the Summit.At the Summit,we will take the necessary decisions to protect our citizens at home and to project stability beyond our borders.*
Tomorrow is an historic day for the Alliance,for Montenegro and for the Western Balkans,Mr.Stoltenberg said in the Q&A session with reporters.It says that NATO's door is open.It's another step in the successful policy of enlargement of both NATO and the EU,and the enlargement of NATO over many years has contributed to stability,peace and security in Europe.And now Montenegro is going to be part of that.Any sanctions or reactions from Russia will be absolutely unjustified,because it's about respecting the sovereign decision of a sovereign nation,Montenegro,to decide on its own path-and that should be respected by everyone.*
NATO is not contemplating combat operations in Libya,but institution-building.We will continue to discuss how we can help them.*
Some of the proposals from our strategic commanders are for battalions in the Baltic countries.It has to be a multinational presence because it sends a very clear signal that an attack on one Ally will be an attack on the whole Alliance.The importance of this forward presence is not that it's going to be so very big,but that it is a multinational presence sending a very clear signal that we are going to stand united;and the forward presence has to be combined with the increased ability to reinforce if needed,so you have to also understand that the forward presence is linked to the high readiness,the higher responsiveness of our forces,and we have already decided to triple the size of the NATO Response Force-and part of that is the new Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF),or the Spearhead Force,a brigade-sized force which can deploy on a very short notice.Add to that that we are already investing in infrastructure;in prepositioning equipment;ammunition;and that the US is in the process of quadrupling its funding for the US presence in Europe:so this is a big thing altogether-a forward presence in the eastern part of our Alliance is just one element in a more comprehensive approach.*
We will decide on the future of the Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan beyond 2016,and will also decide on the funding for the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces.I think that NATO Allies providing funding is extremely important and we will continue to do so.*
I strongly believe that the Summit of NATO in July will recognise the progress that Georgia is making and will reiterate our strong commitment to provide both strong political support to Georgia;but also to provide practical support,working with Georgia to implement reforms,build institutions and to enhance Georgia's ability to modernise its armed forces.So we will continue to work with Georgia;we will continue to defend Georgia's right to make its own decisions;and we continue to work on reforms and help Georgia moving towards NATO membership.*
I have to tell you about the Minsk Agreement on Eastern Ukraine that of course I am concerned,because after we saw a lull in the fighting last year and the beginning of this year-I think the ceasefire was mostly respected-we have seen gradually an increase in the numbers of violations of the ceasefire,and that is undermining the whole Minsk Agreement because it is based on the ceasefire.So my message is,the ceasefire has to be respected;heavy weapons have to be withdrawn;and the international observers have to have full access to the area so they make sure that the Minsk Agreement is fully implemented.*
I'm really looking forward to the opening of a new NATO Training Centre in Kuwait and I visited the site of the facility.It's a big,big building where we're going to have different kinds of training,capacity-building activities for the region.And I think that's just one example of how we are increasing our cooperaton with the Gulf countries.*
In Turkey,we have positioned Patriot Missile batteries;AWACS aircraft;port visits by NATO ships.NATO member countries have bilateral agreements with Turkey to fly out of Incerlik Air Base.This is a very joint effort of NATO Allies and Turkey in the fight against ISIL and also providing the necessary assurance measures for Turkey,all at the same time,NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg pointed out to journalists in Brussels,Belgium.
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