25 May 2019 - Minister of Defence of Montenegro Predrag Bošković and his counterpart of North Macedonia Radmila Šekerinska signed in Podgorica earlier the Agreement on the exchange and mutual protection of classified information, to improve cooperation in the field of the exchange and protection of classified information between the two countries. By signing the agreement, Montenegro strengthens relations with the countries of the region and intensifies cooperation in the application of standards in the field of exchange and protection of classified information.
The agreement regulates the manner of protecting classified information exchanged or incurred between the contracting parties, the term of classified information, determinants of the degree of secrecy and the authorities responsible for its implementation, measures for protection and access to classified information, as well as the methods of transferring classified information.
Furthermore, the agreement defines the signing and enforcement of confidential contracts, the procedure for the realisation of visits by representatives of each of the contracting parties, which includes access to classified information, as well as the manner in which the authorities or contracting parties act in case of violation of the provisions on mutual protection of classified information. The agreement provides for that each party shall bear its costs in connection with the application of this agreement.
The two defence ministers also had a bilateral meeting, during which the Montenegrin Defence Minister pointed out that Montenegro will continue to provide full support to North Macedonia on its Euro-Atlantic path, hopeful that the membership of North Macedonia to NATO will represent a significant step towards achieving a stable security framework for the Western Balkan region.
Both sides agreed that the friendship and the alliance of the two countries could strongly affect the region, because security cohesion can only be achieved through mutual support and cooperation. Reconstruction and unification of common values are needed more than ever, since the countries of the region share a common geographic area, face common problems, DMs Bošković and Šekerinska, agreed.
It was emphasised that the cooperation between the two ministries, in addition to exchanging experiences in all areas of the defence sphere, is also aimed at strengthening national defence capabilities, which will contribute to the collective ability of the Alliance to meet security challenges. It was pointed out that the friendly ties between the two countries, the future allies within the NATO, lead to joint action for the benefit of security and stability of our continent and beyond.
