Romania’s National Defence Minister Adrian Tutuianu on Friday met Defence Minister of Montenegro Predrag Boskovic, who was paying a visit to Romania, highlighting that the recent accession of Montenegro to NATO represents proof that the Alliance’s doors remain open.

“I hail the accession of your country as the 29th member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. The accession of the Republic of Montenegro to NATO contributes to the regional and international peace and security, and sends a powerful signal to other states wanting to join, proving the Alliance’s doors remain open. I am voicing conviction that Montenegro will display the same efforts for integrating itself with the European structures and for promoting the development of regional cooperation. I have assured my counterpart that Romania will stand by in the future, on the path to full European and Euro-Atlantic integration,” the Defence Minister told a news conference at the National Defence Ministry (MApN) headquarters.

Tutuianu added that he discussed with his counterpart aspects of shared interest in respect to the regional security environment, cooperation on a bilateral level, as well as major topics that feature on NATO agenda, with an emphasis on the implementation of the decisions adopted at the meeting of the heads of state or government that took place at the end of May in Brussels.

Furthermore, Tutuianu hailed the professionalism of the Montenegrin military detachment taking part in the Saber Guardian 2017 exercise, adding that Predrag Boskovic is to participate on Saturday in the Distinguished Visitors’ Day of the multinational exercise. Moreover, Defence Minister of Macedonia Radmila Shekerinska is also attending the event, with whom Tutuianu is to carry out bilateral talks.

Predrag Boskovic mentioned that his country’s accession to NATO represents a good signal for all the countries that want to join this structure.

“This is my first official visit to Romania since the accession of the Republic of Montenegro to NATO. It’s no coincidence that we are today in Romania, because we perceive Romania as an important point of reference in ensuring the security in the south-east of Europe. One of our priorities is to ensure peace and security in the area. In this regard, joining NATO is very important to us,” Boskovic said.

Furthermore, he gave assurances that Montenegro will get involved and support Romania in ensuring stability and peace in the area.

More than 25,000 troops using over 2,000 pieces of military hardware from 22 partner countries are taking part in the Saber Guardian 2017 exercise. The exercise is led by the United States Army Europe (USAREUR) and conducted on the national soils of Bulgaria, Romania and Hungary.