During the meeting of the Committee on Civil Dimension of Security, there was a panel discussion on “Political and Security Developments in the Western Balkans”, during which a draft special Report by special rapporteur Ms Ulla Schmidt, Germany, was considered on the topic: “The Western Balkans: European and Euro-Atlantic integration challenges”.

Participating in the discussion on the draft report, member of the Permanent Delegation of the Parliament of Montenegro to the NATO PA Mr Obrad Mišo Stanišić, in the context of the Euro-Atlantic path of Montenegro, expressed his belief that in the Spring Session of the NATO PA the following year Montenegro would have the status of a full-fledged member and in that respect he expressed full agreement with the position of rapporteur Ms Ulla Schmidt - that the ratification process of the Accession Protocol needed to be accelerated.

Mr Stanišić pointed out that Montenegro represented a multi-ethnic society based on firm foundations, that it had concrete regional cooperation and good bilateral relations, and that it had no outstanding issues with its neighbours. In the context of the aforementioned, he especially emphasised the fact that Montenegro represented the only republic of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia which had had no wars in the 90’s of the previous century.

Mr Stanišić expressed full support to all countries aspiring to join the North-Atlantic Alliance, especially to the neighbours, with a goal that the history in the Western Balkans was not to be repeated every 30-40 years.

This was followed by discussions on the draft Report on the topic “Enhancing Euro-Atlantic Counter-terrorism Capabilities and Cooperation” by general rapporteur Ms Joëlle Garriaud-Maylam, France, and the draft Report of the Sub-Committee on Democratic Governance on the topic “Ukraine’s Two Wars: Protecting Independence and Implementing Real Reforms” by rapporteur Lord Jopling, United Kingdom.

The meeting of the Economics and Security Committee was marked by presentations by Minister of Economic Development, Trade and Entrepreneurship of the Republic of Albania Ms Milva Ikonomi on “The Economic Situation in Albania and in the Broader Western Balkans” and Head of International Migration Division, OECD, Mr Jean-Christophe Dumont on the topic “The Economic Dimensions of the Migration Crisis”.

Then that participants in the sitting were presented with the draft General Report on the topic “The Budgetary Implications of New Challenges to Trans-Atlantic Security” by rapporteur Ms Jean-Marie Bockel, France, and the draft Report of the Sub-Committee on Transatlantic Economic Relations by rapporteur Mr Ossur Skarphedinsson, Iceland, on the topic “The Economic and Security Consequences of the Migration Crisis”.

This was followed by the discussion of participants on the draft Report on the topic “The Corruption-Security Nexus” by rapporteur of the Sub-Committee on Transition and Development Mr Richard Benyon, United Kingdom.

During the meeting of the Political Committee, the participants were given presentations by Minister for Foreign Affairs of Albania Mr Ditmir Bushati on “Security Issues in the Balkans”, and by former President of Albania Mr Rexhep Meidani on the topic “Russia and the Western Balkans”.

Furthermore, there was discussion covering the draft Report of the Sub-Committee on NATO Partnerships by rapporteur Mr Paolo Alli, Italy, on the topic “China in a Changing World”, the draft Report of the Sub-Committee on Transatlantic Relations by rapporteur Mr Gerald Connelly, United States, on the topic “Security in the Gulf”, as well as on “Implementation of Wales and Prospects for Warsaw: Political Aspects” by general rapporteur Ms Rasa Jukneviciene, Lithuania.

The Spring Session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly will be continued tomorrow.