Montenegro will continue to contribute to the stability and security of Afghanistan through engagement in the "Resolute Support" mission, as well as by providing financial support in a three-year period to strengthen the capacity of the Afghan forces, said the Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, Igor Lukšić.
As announced by the Ministry, he participated in the meeting of foreign ministers of NATO members and operational partners in the Resolute Support mission, chaired by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.
"At the meeting, the start of the new Resolute Support mission was officially announced from January 1 next year, in which 42 countries participate. The mission will be of a non-combat nature and will have the role of providing training, advice and assistance to the national institutions and the Afghan army," the statement said. Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration.
It is welcomed, as it is added, that by assuming full responsibility of the Afghan Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) for the security of the country, the preconditions for the beginning of a new phase in NATO-Afghanistan relations have been created.
"The participants of the meeting emphasized that this fact is proof of Afghanistan's progress and the strengthening of its capacities. The willingness to provide financial contributions for the strengthening of the ANDSF for the period from 2015 to 2017 is also repeated," the announcement states.
Lukšić welcomed the efforts of the newly elected President of Afghanistan, Ashraf Ghani, for the consolidation of the situation in the country and a better future for the people of Afghanistan.
"Lukšić expressed Montenegro's readiness to continue supporting Afghanistan on that path, individually or within the framework of regional security initiatives such as the American-Adriatic Charter, in accordance with its capacities," the statement said.
Lukšić also participated in the meeting of the Global Coalition to Fight ISIL, which was chaired by US Secretary of State John Kerry, and which was attended by about sixty foreign ministers of the Coalition's members.
"At the meeting, it was jointly concluded that the Islamic State represents a global threat to security, and the willingness of all countries to contribute to stopping it in a comprehensive and long-term way, with political, military, financial and humanitarian means, was expressed," the statement said.
Lukšić emphasized Montenegro's commitment to supporting the efforts of the Coalition in accordance with the state's capabilities.
"He emphasized that Montenegro is strongly committed to the fight against terrorism and religious extremism and that to this end it was a co-sponsor of the UN Resolution on Foreign Fighters".
"He learned that the Government recently adopted amendments to the Criminal Code, which prescribe severe penalties for the participation of our citizens in conflicts abroad. Lukšić expressed Montenegro's full readiness to support the efforts of the coalition at the national and regional level, as well as within the framework of international organizations," it is stated. in the statement.
Lukšić had a short bilateral meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey, Mavlut Cavusoglu, with whom he exchanged opinions on the current situation in the region and the processes of European and Euro-Atlantic integration.
The minister had short meetings with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and Dutch Foreign Minister Bert Konders, as well as with numerous other state representatives.
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