In the fight against growing cyber, hybrid and asymmetric threats, it is necessary to develop a security system that can be quickly adapted, improved and upgraded, said State Secretary at the Ministry of Defense, Marko Marković.
He said this at the International Conference of Montenegrin Security Managers, which is being held in Budva under the slogan "Security without Compromise".
As announced by the Association of Security Managers, the conference is a unique opportunity to bring together experts and professionals in the field of security, with the aim of jointly exploring contemporary challenges and innovative solutions.
Marković said that one of the threats also relates to industrial espionage, adding that it is an everyday occurrence and something that must be resisted in an organized and systematic manner through timely organization of surveillance and control.
"In the fight against growing cyber, hybrid and asymmetric threats, we must develop a system that can quickly adapt, improve and upgrade," said Marković.
According to him, such a system requires the engagement of young, capable and educated people.
State Secretary of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MUP), Petar Koprivica, said that topics such as industrial espionage, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence require adaptation to new challenges.
"This conference should therefore be an alarm, a call, a challenge – and a roadmap," said Koprivica.
He explained that the Ministry of Interior is positioning Montenegro on the map of countries investing in comprehensive public security, preparing it for membership in the European Union (EU) in 2028.
“A key indicator of progress is also intensive cooperation with international partners, such as EUROPOL and INTERPOL, as well as participation in global operations.
"Such cooperation enables the exchange of knowledge, experiences and best practices, which contributes to continuous harmonisation with international standards and timely response to increasingly sophisticated threats," explained Koprivica.
Police Advisor for Organized Crime at the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Toni Škrinjar, also explained that the comprehensive concept of security includes the political-military dimension, environmental protection, and sustainable development.
He also emphasized the human dimension.
"The key emphasis is on improving adequate and timely responses by national authorities to these growing threats, ranging from better forensics to innovative approaches to prevent modern technology from enabling criminals and terrorists to operate," warned Škrinjar.
The President of the Association of Security Managers, Dragan Radulović, reminded that absolute security does not exist, but that it is an undoubted obligation to minimize risks.
He pointed out the problems faced even by institutions around the world that were believed to be untouchable.
"In such a framework, we, as a numerically small community, have a duty to observe and learn from examples. The fact that we are a state with a population of just over half a million is now our key advantage," said Radulović.
According to him, unlike others, Montenegro can implement all solutions quickly and efficiently.
"We need to become aware of this kind of luxury soon," Radulović emphasized.
He pointed out that, regardless of how much technology advances, and artificial intelligence and its capabilities already exceed what the public could have imagined just a year ago, the focus should always be on people.
"Everyone can invest millions and billions in IT, but it, I remind you, rests on the human mind and needs to be managed by a good person. This is the point where IT, security, philosophy and, within it, ethics meet, which is why we hope that power, and especially the power of decision-making, is always in the right hands," said Radulović.
As he stated, people and states must join forces on this path.
According to him, one of the best examples is the establishment of the Center for the Development of Cyber Capacity (WB3C) in 2023 in Podgorica.
As Radulović recalled, this center was created by the joint efforts of France, Slovenia and Montenegro, after destructive cyber attacks on the state information systems of Montenegro and Albania three years ago.
"Our goal is to become a leading cyber center - one that not only has its own programs, but also has the capacity to establish partnerships with organizations that share similar goals," said Radulović.
He recalled that they are already cooperating with various partners from across the EU, including countries such as the Netherlands and Estonia, as well as outside the EU with the United Kingdom and Switzerland.
The director of the center, Gilles Schwoerer, said that the mission of the Center is to ensure the building of cyber capacities in six Western Balkan countries, in the areas of cybersecurity, cybercrime and cyber diplomacy, all with the aim of strengthening cyber resilience.
The Chairman of the Association for Corporate Security of Southeast Europe, Denis Čaleta, emphasized that one of the most important changes in the modern security process is the understanding that the first line of defense is no longer exclusively in the hands of state institutions.
"Today, corporate security plays a key role in preserving stability – both at the national and international levels. Companies are no longer just economic actors – they are partners in protecting critical infrastructure and preserving the resilience of society," said Čaleta.
According to him, in today's connected world, resilience is not a luxury - it is a necessity.
“This is where corporate security professionals come in – not as isolated experts, but as architects of readiness, trusted advisors to management, and guardians of business continuity. Cybersecurity, in particular, is becoming a pillar of corporate resilience,” added Čaleta.
The President of the Municipality of Budva, Nikola Jovanović, said that security awareness must be a priority at the local level, because without a stable and safe environment there is no sustainable development, neither in the economy nor in society as a whole.
"Our goal is not to be just a tourist destination, but also an open and safe environment, attractive for living, working and investing. In this sense, the local government strongly supports initiatives that contribute to the development of security awareness and the strengthening of institutional capacities," said Jovanović.
As announced, the Association of Security Managers of Montenegro and the Association of Lawyers of Montenegro signed a Memorandum of Cooperation, which was initialed by the leaders of these organizations, Dragan Radulović and Branislav Radulović.
"The memorandum is based on improving cooperation in the field of legal order and the functioning of the security and defense system and security risk management, as well as on promoting NATO and EU integration and the principles of the rule of law," the statement said.
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