MONTENEGRO'S FOREIGN MINISTER SEEKS NATO MEMBER SUPPORT FOR

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PODGORICA 000278

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

FOR EUR/SCE AND EUR/RPM

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL MARR MW
SUBJECT: MONTENEGRO'S FOREIGN MINISTER SEEKS NATO MEMBER SUPPORT FOR
MAP APPLICATION

REF: PODGORICA 274

PODGORICA 00000278 001.2 OF 002



1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The FM presented copies of the GoM's request
for MAP consideration at the NATO summit in April to member
missions in Podgorica. He urged member governments to consider
Montenegro's strong commitment to joining the Euro-Atlantic
community and examine the progress it has made in a short time.
He also asked that Montenegro's request be considered on its
own merits. END SUMMARY.




2. (SBU) On 7 November, FM Rocen convened NATO member country
ambassadors in Podgorica to discuss the Montenegro's application
for MAP, which PM Djukanovic presented to NATO SYG Scheffer on 5
November (Reftel). The FM handed each participant in the
meeting a copy of the PM's letter to Scheffer, under cover of a
letter from him to each country's Minister of Foreign Affairs.
(Post is transmitting to EUR/SCE a scanned copy of Rocen's
letter to the Secretary, along with the attached copy of
Djukanovic's letter. Original will follow by pouch.) Rocen
added that the PM had sent similar letters to Sarkozy and Merkel
announcing GoM's desire to be considered for MAP at the April
summit.




3. (SBU) FM Rocen told the group that he had been present for
the meeting with Scheffer and that the SYG's response had been
very encouraging. The SYG, according to Rocen, said that NATO
is counting on new members, not suffering from "enlargement
fatigue." Rocen also praised President Bush's recent speech
supporting entry into NATO by Croatia and Albania, in which the
President had specifically mentioned Montenegro among the
aspiring candidates.




4. (SBU) The GoM, Rocen went on to say, fully understands the
obligations inherent in preparing for MAP and is committed to
them in the interest of its strategic imperative of joining the
Euro-Atlantic community. He also asked that each individual
candidate be considered on its own merits, recalling NATO's
"regatta" approach to considering applications. While
recounting Montenegro's progress, he acknowledged the difficulty
of fulfilling all the conditions related to the Intensified
Dialogue in the coming months. He commented that the GoM is
adopting a work plan to rectify the "negative" aspects of the
European Commission progress report for Montenegro released
earlier this week.




4. (SBU) The FM described in detail the progress Montenegro has
made to position itself for MAP, elaborating on what was
presented in the letter:



-- It will finalize its membership in the Adriatic Charter at a
meeting of the five FMs on the margins of the OSCE ministerial
next month.



-- It is ready to participate actively and contribute to
regional cooperation to the best of its ability.



-- It is ready to host a NATO liaison office in Podgorica.



-- It is carrying out an aggressive communications strategy to
communicate the benefits of NATO membership to the Montenegrin
public.



-- A secure communication and records facility is ready and
awaiting inspection by NATO experts next week.



-- A medical team is training to deploy for international
peacekeeping operations and will be fully prepared by the end of
the year.


PODGORICA 00000278 002.2 OF 002




-- Additional training is in progress for armed PKO units, which
should be ready by next year.



-- The GoM has adopted a National Security and Defense Strategy,
which will soon be submitted to the Parliament for approval.



-- The GoM plans to report its progress on IPAP goals by the end
of the year.



-- It is continuing the Intensified Dialogue and other regular
contacts with NATO.
KONTOS