Montenegro is committed to meeting the standards for arms control in the Western Balkans, Foreign Affairs Minister Srđan Darmanović said at a meeting within the Franco-German Initiative for comprehensive control of small arms and light weapons in that region.
As reported by the Ministry, at the second meeting in Berlin, he said that Montenegro, as a credible partner, is ready to contribute to efforts in the development and implementation of policies and the highest standards, in order to make the Western Balkans safer.
"Uncontrolled proliferation and illegal trade in small and light weapons has an alarming impact on peace and stability, sustainable development, but also human rights, which are violated in many parts of the world precisely for these reasons," Darmanović said.
Speaking about the progress that Montenegro has achieved so far through the implementation of certain goals from the Road Map, Dramanović said that future steps in the direction of suppressing the illegal trade in small arms and light weapons and related ammunition in the Western Balkans will facilitate the efforts of the region in meeting the security requirements for European integration.
The European Commissioners for Internal Affairs and Enlargement and Neighborhood Policy, Ilva Johansson and Oliver Varhelji, as well as the Ministers of Foreign and Internal Affairs of the Western Balkans participated in the meeting, which was hosted by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Germany and France, Heiko Maas and Jean Yves Le Drian.
The hosts of the meeting praised the progress and willingness of the Western Balkan six to contribute to a safer environment, which is in the strategic interest of both sides.
Darmanović was also a guest at the lunch that Mas prepared for the foreign ministers of France, the Western Balkans Six, the EU Commissioner for Enlargement and the Secretary General of the OSCE.
"During the conversation, opinions were exchanged on strategic issues, global security challenges, terrorism, illegal migration, economic development and regional cooperation," the announcement concludes.
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