Krapović: Members of the Armed Forces of Montenegro significantly contributed to the successful organization of the EU-Western Balkans Summit

Members of the Armed Forces of Montenegro (AFM) have significantly contributed to the successful organization of the European Union (EU) - Western Balkans Summit through their professional and responsible engagement and have further confirmed the reputation of the AFM as a reliable and capable institution, assessed Minister of Defense Dragan Krapović.

Krapović and Deputy Prime Minister for Security, Defense, Fight against Crime and Internal Policy Aleksa Bečić today visited members of the Armed Forces of Montenegro who were engaged in securing the Summit held in Tivat last week.

As announced by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, on that occasion, a review of members of the Armed Forces of Montenegro who provided support to colleagues from the Police Directorate and other institutions of the intelligence and security sector during one of the most important international gatherings held in Montenegro was held at the "People's Hero Milovan Šaranović" barracks in Danilovgrad.

Krapović thanked the members of the Army for the professional and responsible performance of all entrusted tasks, emphasizing that their engagement significantly contributed to the successful organization of the Summit and further confirmed the reputation of the Armed Forces of Montenegro as a reliable and capable institution.

"The successful implementation of the EU-Western Balkans Summit required top-notch coordination of all security structures of the state, and the Armed Forces of Montenegro once again demonstrated that it is a reliable support for state institutions when it is most needed," said Krapović.

He emphasized that from June 3 to 6, more than 100 members of the Armed Forces of Montenegro were engaged in providing support to the Police Directorate, along with specialized vehicles, vessels, and helicopters.

According to Krapović, members of the defense system carried out complex tasks of airport security, anti-sabotage inspections, control of land, sea and airspace, as well as direct support for the protection of high-ranking delegations.

"All activities were carried out professionally, disciplined and flawlessly," Krapović emphasized.

He assessed that the contribution of the members of the Armed Forces of Montenegro goes beyond the scope of the event itself.

"Your engagement was not just a contribution to the security of an international gathering. It was a contribution to the international reputation of Montenegro. Each professionally performed task represented confirmation that the Armed Forces of Montenegro is a modern, capable and reliable institution of the state," said Krapović.

He said that the Armed Forces of Montenegro remain one of the key pillars of the security and stability of the country, and thanked all members for their dedication, professionalism and dignified representation of the Army and the country on the international stage.

Bečić thanked the members of the Army, emphasizing that they were one of the backbones of the successful organization of the EU-Western Balkans Summit.

He said that members of the Army, together with colleagues from the Police Directorate, the Intelligence and Security Directorate of the Ministry of Defense and the National Security Agency and their resources, provided maximum protection and comfort for 32 foreign delegations of the highest European level and for over a thousand people who were in the protected area.

He especially thanked the soldiers for, as he said, manifesting unity, compactness, homogeneity, coordination, responsibility, and dignity at every step and in every move, within the framework of their engagement, understanding the significance of the historical moment that this event brought for Montenegro.

"Thank you for participating in writing an exceptionally beautiful page of Montenegrin history, because our mother and only homeland, Montenegro, managed to organize the greatest event in its history in such an impressive way," said Bečić.

He added that, with this kind of organization and the messages that were heard, Montenegro has secured full political, economic, social, and tourist affirmation.

"Montenegro has also received recognition from the most important authorities for implementing impressive reforms in numerous fields during the mandate of this Government, but this event, with its organization and the messages heard at it, definitely represents a kind of green light that Montenegro is ready to become the 28th member of the EU in 2028," said Bečić.

Bečić congratulated the Ministry of Defense and members of the Armed Forces of Montenegro on, as he said, the great start of the "Army at Your Doorstep" campaign within the third mission, where successful activities have already been implemented in Nikšić and Tivat.