January 11, 2019 - Executive Director of the Directorate for Defense Policy, Ivica Ivanovic, met in Riga with the Political Director of the Ministry of Defense of Latvia, Janis Karlsberg.
The interlocutors expressed readiness to improve the defense cooperation of the two countries in the field of defense, initiated in 2008 by signing a Cooperation Agreement in the field of defense.
In the focus of Ivanovic's and Karlsberg's talks, there was the upcoming visit to Latvia by the Minister of Defense of Montenegro, Mr. Predrag Boskovic, as well as the recent transfer of the Scout Department of the Army of Montenegro to the mission Enhanced Forward Presence (eFP). Ivanovic said that our country's presence in Latvia demonstrates the tendency to continually contribute to the overall efforts of the Alliance in strengthening the security of its citizens and territory, while also enhancing the operational capability and interoperability of the Army of Montenegro.
Ivanovic informed Karlsberg about the modernization of the Montenegrin Army's capacity, the progress of the implementation of the Goals' Capabilities, the promotion of Euro-Atlantic values in the Western Balkans region, through the implementation of NATO's “open door” policy, and the provision of support to the countries of the region in achieving their key foreign policy goals. He thanked for the support provided by the Republic of Latvia to the training of Montenegrin officers and Defense Ministry officials at the Baltic Defense College.
Karlsbergs stressed that Montenegro is proving to be a reliable and credible ally and stressed that Latvia would continue to support Montenegro and its efforts on the path to the European integration. He assessed that Montenegro's contribution to the eFP mission is another proof of Montenegro's commitment to strengthening global peace and stability.
The two colleagues exchanged views on contemporary security threats and stability of the Balkan and Baltic region, stressing the importance of jointly opposing the challenges through an active national contribution to the collective defense system.
Ivanovic also met with the Ambassador Edgars Skuj, General Director for Security Policy and International Organizations in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia, with whom he exchanged views on the current security situation. It was concluded that only joint efforts and teaming up could eliminate security challenges on a global scale.
Text by CdM, on January 10th, 2019, read more at CdM
