A reception was held in Villa Gorica on the occasion of seven years of membership in the NATO alliance

The Government of Montenegro organized a reception in Villa Gorica on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the founding of NATO and seven years of Montenegro's membership in that alliance.

The guests were welcomed as hosts by Vice President Aleksa Bečić, Minister of Foreign Affairs Filip Ivanović and Minister of Defense Dragan Krapović.

The reception was attended by Prime Minister Milojko Spajić and Minister of Finance Novica Vuković, Minister of Labor and Social Welfare Naida Nišić, Minister of Internal Affairs Danilo Saranović, Minister of European Affairs Maida Gorčević, President of the State Jakov Milatović, Member of Parliament for the Movement Europe now Miodrag Laković, MPs of the Bosniak Party Ervin Ibrahimović, Damir Gutić, Admir Adrović and Mirsad Mirković, Democrats MPs Duško Stjepović, Albin Ćeman and Boris Bogdanović, German ambassador Peter Felten and Serbia's Nebojša Rodić.

In addition to them, the reception will be attended by former Minister of Defense and Ambassador Milica Pejanović Đurišić, former Montenegrin Ambassador to the USA Miodrag Vlahović, former Minister of Foreign Affairs Milan Roćen, retired Admiral Dragan Samardžić, former Prime Minister Igor Lukšić...

Prime Minister Milojko Spajić said that Montenegro's membership in NATO made Montenegro safer and more secure, and contributed to strengthening the stability of the region.

Addressing the guests, the Prime Minister said that integration into NATO seven years ago also meant the adoption and application of the values ​​and principles inherited by the Alliance, i.e. the confirmation that Montenegro had reached the prescribed standards by joining the alliance of the most developed countries, and that today it is following the development path outlined then road and stands at the door of the European Union.

"Today, our commitment to the values ​​that are the heritage of the Alliance is more important than ever. Russia's aggression against our partner Ukraine is a reminder and warning of the importance of solidarity and joint action. This support emphasizes our unshakable belief in a world where force does not make right, where the principles of humanity, justice and international law prevail," said the Prime Minister.

He also reminded that the symbolism of membership in NATO goes beyond military strength, that is, it represents a pledge to protect the common values ​​of freedom, democracy and human dignity. "As we move forward, we must continue to champion those ideals, both within our borders and beyond, ensuring that future generations inherit a world that is just, peaceful and prosperous."

Speaking about the comprehensiveness of NATO policy, values, but also obligations and responsibilities, the Prime Minister said that he understands the different emotions that events from the past cause in some of the public, stressing that Montenegro pursues a policy of protecting every citizen and creating conditions for them to live peacefully and in Montenegro to create and our descendants. "Therefore, I ask that responsibility towards the moment in which we live and duty towards those for whom we live be the only thing that determines our attitudes and our beliefs", said Spajić.

At the reception, it was said that NATO is the only guarantor of security, and membership is a privilege of Montenegro, especially in times of conflict and war happenings on the slopes of Europe. This is precisely why, as never before, it is important to build mechanisms of resistance to all potential security threats. "And we can do that not only by strengthening the defense policy, but primarily by building a better society - through education, the rule of law and a better standard of our citizens. Only based on true values ​​will our society be more resistant to all external influences and all security threats. And NATO is also that, NATO is those values."

He pointed out that membership in NATO significantly stimulated economic development and influenced the greater interest of foreign investors, the inflow of investments, and thus the improvement of the standard of living of our citizens.

"Therefore, let this jubilee be a reminder that we are stronger together. Convinced that we will meet 10 years of membership ready to be united in Europe, and even more secure in NATO, I congratulate us in Montenegro and our allies once again on the anniversary of membership and 75 years of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization," concluded the Prime Minister.

After Spajić's address, the audience was shown a video about the Army, and then the guitar duo Darko Nikčević and Srđan Bulatović performed.