"SAFETY AND SECURITY HAVE NO PRICE"

LOCIT WAS TAUGHT WITH PANEL DISCUSSION ON MONTENEGRO'S NATO INTEGRATION HELD IN ROZAJE

12.05.2015.

A panel discussion on "NATO integration of Montenegro" was held on May 12 of the current year in Rožaje. The host of the meeting, the president of the municipality of Rožaje Ejup Nurković at the very beginning, he pointed out the enormous importance of this topic, which is supported by a large number of citizens of the municipality who strive for a safer and safer life.

Member of the Bosniak Party and Vice-President of the Parliament of Montenegro Suljo Mustafić, Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey Mehmet Niazi Tanilir and ambassador of Hungary Christian Poša tried to bring the benefits of Montenegro's membership in the NATO alliance closer to the citizens of Rožaj.

"We consider it certain that we will receive an invitation to join the NATO alliance during this year, if we achieve more measurable results in the areas of strengthening the rule of law, reforming the security and defense sectors, and strengthening public support for Montenegro's membership in NATO in the coming months, and of course if geopolitical circumstances do not will violate the current concept of supporting the enlargement process. However, even if it were to happen that the invitation is not delivered by the end of this year, we believe that in no case should this mean either turning around or giving up on this goal" - said official BoSniak party Sulja Mustafic.

The biggest responsibility for achieving these results lies with the competent institutions that have led this process until now - primarily the Government, and then all others who are part of that process, including, of course, the Parliament and political parties. I think that we should take a good look at the shortcomings of the current strategy and its implementation, work on their elimination and commit ourselves more decisively to fulfilling our obligations.

The process of joining NATO is complementary to European integration, because getting closer to the EU should also mean harmonization with NATO standards. These are integrations in two alliances that have many common values, this is the path taken by all the countries of the region that have recently become EU members. For each of them, without exception, NATO was the gate they had to pass through before joining the EU. The rule of law, reduction of corruption and crime, respect for fundamental human rights, and in this context the rights of minority national communities, democratic transition, strengthening of institutions, economic and political stability are some of the important goals of these integrations.

Whether it is the Ukrainian crisis or the latest conflicts in the Middle East, almost tectonic disruptions in security warn us of how quickly a seemingly stable area can turn into an unstable one. Also, this very experience, but also the very image of the Balkans today, where extremism and large-scale state projects are still alive, warns us that Montenegro, as a small country, should be part of some larger security integrative processes, where its security becomes part of the overall strategy of that alliance.

Minority nations perhaps understand this best and hence the high level of support for NATO integration in areas such as Rožaje. Events around us, not so far away, as yesterday, in Macedonia, confirm that we are looking at this topic correctly. I think that many more citizens now understand the need to position Montenegro in broader security integrations, in a system that represents a defense framework, in which the same rules apply to all, small and large. Therefore, the security of each individual country, as a member of NATO, represents the obligation of the entire alliance.

Political stability is a necessary prerequisite for an economic perspective, because capital is not invested where there is political instability. Such areas are not interesting for investors, there are no stronger development projects, therefore there is no economic improvement. Our goal is to have a richer and healthier society, which means stable and interesting for investments.

Without investment, there is no development, neither north nor south, nor tourism, nor agriculture, nor infrastructure, nor roads. Therefore, there is no serious improvement of the economic environment, nor conditions for a better standard and perspective for young people. Of course, joining NATO is not in itself a sufficient condition for a better life. However, creating the conditions for a safe life also means opening the perspective for economic investments, reducing poverty and starting the economy.

The determination for NATO integration, which should be confirmed in the Parliament, after receiving the invitation, through the democratic testimony of the elected representatives of the citizens, has support in the areas where Bosniaks and other minority peoples live. Primarily because we want good for our country, safety and security have no price, we want our children to live in these spaces, in our common Montenegro, safely, together with their neighbors of other religions and nations, in a richer and healthier society and with a greater perspective than which is today or in the recent past - concluded Mustafić.

Office of the President of the Municipality

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