Stoltenberg: Bosnia and Herzegovina is making a significant contribution to NATO operations

PODGORICA, (Patria) - By participating in important NATO missions, such as those in Afghanistan and Kosovo, and by being prepared to allocate two percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) for defense, Montenegro has shown that it is our reliable and firm ally, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in an interview for the Podgorica newspaper “Pobjeda“, reports Patria.

He said that the security and stability of the Western Balkans are extremely important for NATO, “and we have strong relations with all countries in the region.“

“I oversaw Montenegro's accession process to NATO, which has increased security and stability in the Western Balkans. I also worked closely with the authorities in Skopje, supporting their country's Euro-Atlantic aspirations. In this regard, we welcome the ongoing work on the implementation of the name agreement and I look forward to Macedonia becoming the 30th member of NATO, once national procedures are completed. Bosnia and Herzegovina is also making a significant contribution to NATO operations, and we fully support their Euro-Atlantic integration path,“ Stoltenberg said.

In April 2019, NATO will mark its 70th anniversary. Responding to the question of what he sees as the Alliance's greatest achievements and where he thinks the Alliance could have done more, Stoltenberg emphasized that NATO has been a guarantor of peace and security throughout the Euro-Atlantic area for all these years, through a strong transatlantic link.