The Defense and Security Council today reached a conclusion to schedule a special session of that body in a broader composition, at which the security situation in the country will be discussed, including a proposal to amend the National Security Strategy.
The 36th and 37th sessions of the Council were held today at Villa Gorica in Podgorica, chaired by the President of Montenegro Jakov Milatović. The following participated in the work: the Speaker of the Parliament Andrija Mandić and the Prime Minister Milojko Spajić, and upon invitation, the Minister of Defense Dragan Krapović, the Minister of Internal Affairs Danilo Šaranović, the Chief of the General Staff of the Army of Montenegro Brigadier General Zoran Lazarević, the Acting Director of the Police Administration Lazar Šćepanović, the Advisor to the President Dejan Vukšić and the Advisor to the Prime Minister Todor Goranović.
"The Council concluded its 36th session with the conclusion that additional consultations will be held between the Cabinet of the President of Montenegro and the Cabinet of the Minister of Defense with the aim of finding an optimal solution," Milatović's cabinet announced.
Mandić said today that, at the Council session, he proposed to Milatović and Spajić that the National Security Strategy be amended in the section on the political influence of organized crime and that transnational drug trafficking cartels be declared terrorist organizations.
Šaranović and Šćepanović informed the members of the Council about the security situation in Montenegro.
The session adopted a Proposal for a Decision on the Engagement of Members of the Army of Montenegro in NATO Activities Providing Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine - NSATU). The Council members agreed that the activities of the Army members within the framework of NSATU can be implemented exclusively on the territory of one of the NATO countries. The Defense and Security Council will submit the adopted proposal to the Parliament for consideration and decision-making.
"The session adopted a Decision approving the participation of units of the Army of Montenegro of the rank of platoon or higher in three exercises abroad that will be held during 2025. The proposal of the Ministry of Defense stemmed from Montenegro's obligations as a member of NATO, the process of accession to the European Union, regional initiatives and bilateral cooperation plans with the aim of further developing military capabilities and achieving the necessary level of combat readiness," the statement reads.
The Council members considered the initiative of the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation and the Ministry of Health to introduce police officers in educational and health institutions in Montenegro. The Council requested a statement from the Government on this initiative.
The Council also considered the request of the Trade Union of Defense and the Army of Montenegro (SOVCG) regarding the rights of employees in the Army. The Council was informed that a new Regulation on the Salaries of Employees in the Army was adopted at the end of 2024. The Council members also concluded that the competent institutions should complete the obligations within their jurisdiction as a priority so that the amendments to the Law on the Army can be adopted in the first half of 2025.
At today's session, the Council also considered proposals for decisions on the appointments and dismissals of officers of the Army of Montenegro.
At today's session, the Defense and Security Council also considered other issues within its jurisdiction.
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