During the meeting of the Defence and Security Committee, while participating in the debate on “National and Transnational Security Challenges in the Current Security Environment” based on presentation by Minister of Defence of the Republic of Albania Ms Mimi Kodheli, member of the Permanent Delegation of the Parliament of Montenegro to the NATO PA Mr Obrad Mišo Stanišić, among other things, thanked the minister and the neighbouring Albania on honest and continuous assistance to Montenegro on its path towards the NATO membership. He agreed with Minister Kodheli and those who believed that the future of other Western Balkans countries as well was in the collective security system such as the North Atlantic Alliance.

Then the participants in meeting were addressed by Senior Research Fellow and representative of the Strategic Research Foundation Mr Bruno Tertrais with a presentation on the topic “Challenges from the South”.

This was followed by the discussion of delegates on the draft General Report on the topic “New Defence Imperatives: The Implementation of Wales Pledges and Prospects for Warsaw” by general rapporteur Mr Joseph A. Day, Canada. Following that, there was discussion on the draft Report on the topic “NATO’s Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan 2016” by special rapporteur Mr Wolfgang Hellmich, Germany, and the draft Report on “NATO and the Future Role of Naval Power” of the Sub-Committee on Future Security and Defence Capabilities by Ms Madeleine Moon, United Kingdom.

Within the meeting of the Science and Technology Committee, the delegates were addressed by Minister of Energy and Industry of the Republic of Albania Mr Damian Gjiknuri with presentation on the topic “Albania may become an important hub of the Southern Gas Corridor”, and then by Senior Fellow at the Center for a New American Security Mr Elbridge A. Colby and Mr Lukasz Kulesa, Research Director at the European Leadership Network, on the topic “Strengthening Deterrence, Promoting Arms Control in Europe“.

There was also presentation of the draft Report on the topic “The Future of Allied Airborne Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance” by general rapporteur Mr Philippe Vitel, France, as well as the draft Report “The Iranian Nuclear Programme: How to Build Upon the Deal” by special rapporteur Mr Osman Askin Bak, Turkey. Furthermore, there was presentation of the draft Report of the Sub-Committee on Technology Trends and Security on the topic “Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Terrorism: The Rise of Daesh and Future Challenges” by rapporteur Ms Maria Martens, Netherlands.

The Spring Session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly will be continued tomorrow, when the Plenary Session is to be held.