The President of Montenegro, Mr. Filip Vujanović, addressing participants of the Plenary Sitting with the topic “Enlargement and the future of NATO” also spoke of Montenegro’s progress regarding Euro-Atlantic integration and aspiration toward the full-fledged NATO membership. On this occasion, President Vujanović thanked for the opportunity to speak on the issue of great importance to Montenegro and pointed out full commitment to the full-fledged NATO membership, having in mind that the collective security system represented the only guarantee for long-term stability in the Balkans region. President Vujanović positively assessed the circumstance that the issue of enlargement and the future of the Alliance were included as one of the central topics of the Plenary Sitting of the 58th Annual Session, and expressed expectation that, at the first upcoming NATO summit, Montenegro would be invited to become a full-fledged member of the North-Atlantic Alliance. Montenegrin President pointed out that NATO membership would bring stability, which would be of great importance for attracting foreign investors and for economic growth. He also stressed that in the further development of partnership between Montenegro and NATO, strengthening of the parliamentary cooperation would be of great significance, as contribution to fulfilling the final goal - full-fledged membership. 

In continued work of the Plenary Sitting, Mr. Hugh Bayley (UK) was elected the President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, and the positions of vice-presidents went to: Ms. Nicole Ameline (France), Ms. Cheryl Gallant (Canada), Mr. Giorgio La Malfa (Italy), Mr. Karl Lamers (Germany) and Mr. Julio Miranda Calha (Portugal).

This was followed by declaration of delegates on drafts of resolutions on: “Democratic transition in the Middle East and North Africa”, “Afghanistan: Ensuring successful transition”, “NATO after Chicago”, “Iranian Nuclear Programme”, “Future of Democracy with our neighbors in the East”, “Economic Potential of the Arctic, obligation of protection of the environment and security investment”, “Progress in Syria: Security implications for the region and beyond”, “Euro-crisis: Implications for Security and Defense”; as well as voting on proposed financial documents.

The work of 58th Annual Session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly ends today, during which the Delegation of the Parliament of Montenegro consisted of permanent members Mr. Borislav Banović and Mr. Vasilije Lalošević.