Bilateral defence cooperation with important international partners intensified

In the past 100 days, the Ministry of Defence has worked diligently and dedicatedly and intensified bilateral defence cooperation with important international partners. The Ministry will remain committed to the system of collective security, modernization, strengthening defence capacities and other priority and strategic activities.

Minister of Defence Olivera Injac, within the Government's video campaign "Potpisujem" (I sign) on the first 100 days of work, said that the Ministry's mission is the continuation of the reforms of the defence system.

Injac explained that at the beginning of the mandate, a burning issue was waiting for a solution, which was determining the location for the military range. The Government of Montenegro, at the suggestion of the Ministry of Defence, sent a public appeal to citizens protesting in Sinjajevina in winter to return to their homes, because no military exercises will be held.

"After that, the Ministry of Defence undertook activities in terms of finding the best solution for determining the location of the training ground for military exercises," said Injac.

The Armed Forces of Montenegro, as she said, continuously give their contribution to the fight against coronavirus.

"Modernization of the system and encouraging the professionalism of the Armed Forces is our continuous task. This implies also the importance of a more efficient approach to civil-military relations, which can only satisfy our citizens, who will no longer have to fear that decisions may jeopardize their rights and freedoms, health and the environment, as well as other preconditions for harmonious life," said Injac.

She stated that the 5th Montenegrin contingent was deployed to Latvia, within the activities of the Enhanced Forward Presence (eFP), as well as that one member of the Armed Forces of Montenegro was deployed to the UN mission MINURSO, Western Sahara.

"One member of the Montenegrin Navy was deployed to the EU operation NAVFOR ATALANTA. We have also contributed to the NATO Response Force (NRF) - one infantry platoon is on high alert as part of the Alliance's Response Force," said Injac.

She added that for the first time, an inter-ministerial working team aimed at networking women in the security sector was formed.

"In the past hundred days, we have worked diligently and dedicatedly and we have intensified bilateral defence cooperation with important international partners," said Injac.

According to her, Montenegro has continued to responsibly fulfill crucial obligations arising from NATO membership, affirming the continuation of democratic processes and promoting the importance of Euro-Atlantic integration of the Western Balkans.

As Injac emphasised, the Ministry of Defence will remain committed to the system of collective security, modernization, strengthening of defence capacities and other priority and strategic activities in the following period as well.

"My vision is further work on professionalization, depoliticization and strengthening of military culture within the Armed Forces of Montenegro and the Ministry of Defence, in which I will remain consistent and determined," said Injac.