Minister Naď makes first official visit to Montenegro, supporting the country's pro-European direction in the upcoming election

Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď today made his first official visit to Montenegro for talks with the country's highest representatives. The Defence Minister's official programme involved meetings with President Milo Đukanović, Prime Minister Duško Marković, and his Montenegrin counterpart, Defence Minister Predrag Bošković.

Topics of discussion included the MOD's priorities, a continuation of bilateral engagements, and an exchange of experience in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. On the coming parliamentary election in the country, Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď expressed his full and continued support for Montenegro's democratic transformation, European direction and integration efforts.

Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď said: “This week Montenegro is set to hold its parliamentary election, which is to show whether the country will continue its pro-European and pro-Western direction. I keep my fingers crossed for the country to keep the set course. In the long term, Montenegro has been one of the most stable countries in the Western Balkan region. After its accession to NATO as the principal and indisputable guarantor of security and defence, the country is now poised to deliver on yet another fundamental foreign policy priority – that of Montenegro's entry into the EU.” The Minister added that Montenegro's membership in the EU will strengthen the country's democracy, economic growth and stability. Towards this end, Slovakia is ready to assist Montenegro with its own experience of the EU integration processes.

During the conversation with his counterpart P. Bošković, Minister Naď appreciated the level of the bilateral relationship between Slovakia and Montenegro, which he referred to as “very alive, dynamic and flexible”, and expressed his interest in further deepening it, speaking especially of cooperation on military education, training and modernisation, including on the defence industry. On the latter, Minister Naď said: “Slovak defence manufacturers are greatly interested in cooperating with their Montenegrin partners. That is why we welcome every initiative to take our cooperation in this area forward, which will contribute to bolstering the defence capacities of both countries.”

As part of his official programme tomorrow, Defence Minister Naď will also be holding talks with President of the Montenegrin Parliament Ivan Brajović.