NATO inviteג Montenegro to start accession talks to become the 29th member of the Alliance. Secretary General hailed the decision as “historic.” He said; “this is a good day for Montenegro, a good day for the Western Balkans and a good day for the Alliance.”
The decision, described by Nato head Jens Stoltenberg as “historic”, comes 16 years after the alliance bombed Montenegro during the Kosovo war, when it was still part of Yugoslavia.
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Russia has repeatedly warned against the move, describing it as a threat to stability in the western Balkans.
The Secretary General stressed the decision was “an important step in the Euro-Atlantic integration of the entire Western Balkans region and it makes clear that NATO keeps its door open, to complete our vision of a Europe whole, free and at peace.”
The decision to invite Montenegro was taken during a meeting of the North Atlantic Council at the level of Foreign Ministers. Montenegro invited to join the meeting after the decision was taken.
Since 2009, NATO and Montenegro have worked closely together through the Membership Action Plan, which helps nations prepare for possible future membership.
The Secretary General said Wednesday’s decision reflected Montenegro’s “unwavering commitment to our common values and to international security.”
Wednesday’s decision will pave the way for accession talks to start in early 2016. Once they are concluded, Allies will sign an accession protocol which will have to be ratified by parliaments in all 28 Allies. Once that process is completed, Montenegro will be able to accede to the Washington Treaty and become a member of the Alliance.
