LOC09:03
06:03 GMT
WASHINGTON, Jan 21 (KUNA) -- The US has pledged support for Montenegro
becoming a NATO member and congratulated it for achieving the Membership
Action Plan (MAP) status with the Atlantic Alliance.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told reporters following her meeting
with Montenegros Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic last night that the talks
they held mainly focused on "the Western Balkans and the role that Montenegro
is playing to ensure stability."
She said that she congratulated the Prime Minister on his country
"achieving MAP status with NATO, and pledged the United States support for
Montenegro becoming an integral part of the Euro-Atlantic community."
"I offered the support of the United States as Montenegro makes some of the
reforms in the rule of law area that both NATO and the European Union are
looking to see," she added.
The US top diplomat noted that she thanked the visiting Premier "for his
countrys commitment to sending infantry troops to be part of the
international force in Afghanistan."
For his part, Djukanovic thanked Clinton for "the support to Montenegro in
pursuing our goal, which is membership action plan at NATO."
He affirmed that his country stands ready "to work hard to fulfill all the
obligations in the next stages of our integration."
The Prime Minister voiced confidence that his country will be the next
country to become a new NATO member.
"Our two challenges for the future are improving, enhancing the rule of
law, and we stand committed to doing this in order to improve the quality of
life of our citizens and achieve our European and Euro-Atlantic goals as soon
as possible," he stressed.
He reiterated that Montenegro "is and will remain a responsible and
reliable partner to the US and EU in dealing with the still outstanding issues
in the Balkans."
"We will also work closely with our partners in other places beyond our
region, starting with Afghanistan," he affirmed. (end).
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