MONTENEGRO EAGER TO MOVE QUICKLY TOWARD MAP AND NATO

UNCLAS PODGORICA 000217

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV NATO MASS MARR MW
SUBJECT: MONTENEGRO EAGER TO MOVE QUICKLY TOWARD MAP AND NATO

REF: STATE 83586


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: PM Djukanovic enthusiastically welcomed the
USG initiative to focus the GOM on priority goals related to its
NATO aspirations (reftel). The PM reiterated Montenegro's
strong commitment to seeking membership in MAP in 2009 and
membership in the Alliance in the longer term. He readily
agreed to the Ambassador's proposal to establish regular
bilateral consultations between the Embassy and the GOM over the
coming months to review Montenegro's progress toward NATO. The
PM said he is worried that some Allies might try to slow down
Montenegro's MAP and membership bids by lumping it together in
the enlargement process with Georgia, Ukraine, and/or Serbia.
END SUMMARY




2. (SBU) In a meeting with PM Djukanovic on 8/6, the Ambassador
emphasized, inter alia, USG support for Montenegro's NATO
aspirations and called on the PM to ensure positive momentum
toward NATO membership in the coming months and beyond. The
Ambassador presented the PM with reftel's priority goals,
stressing that the goals are only illustrative priorities and
that successful implementation of them would not guarantee USG
support for MAP in 2009. The Ambassador proposed that the
Embassy and GOM consult regularly over the coming months to
review Montenegro's progress toward closer association with NATO.




3. (SBU) Stressing his firm commitment to Montenegro's eventual
membership in NATO, the PM enthusiastically welcomed the USG
initiative. He reiterated his Government's strong desire to
earn an invitation to membership in MAP at the 2009 Summit and
wholeheartedly agreed to the suggestion of regular consultations
with the Embassy. He said that such consultations would help
the GOM ensure an energetic pace of progress toward closer ties
with the Alliance. After conferring with Foreign Minister Rocen
(currently on leave),the GOM will work with the Embassy to
establish the modalities for such consultations. He said he
fully understood the Ambassador's message that the priority
goals were not a "checklist" and that successful implementation
of them would not guarantee USG support for MAP in 2009.




4. (SBU) The PM expressed deep apprehension that some Allies
might seek to dramatically slow down Montenegro's progress
toward NATO by grouping it together with Georgia and Ukraine --
or perhaps Serbia -- in the enlargement process. He strongly
appealed for Montenegro to be judged on its own merits, arguing
that issues related to Montenegro's NATO aspirations were highly
dissimilar to Georgia's and Ukraine's (e.g., Russia's attitude).
He also expressed skepticism that Serbia would be prepared any
time in the foreseeable future to engage in a committed effort
toward NATO membership.




5. (SBU) We also propose (more detail in septel) that the USG
encourage NATO to set up an office in Podgorica to help
accelerate the defense reform and overall enlargement process.
The GOM strongly supports the idea of such an office and would
be willing to provide office space and other support.

RMOORE