MONTENEGRO: PROGRESS REPORT ON NATO-RELATED REFORMS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PODGORICA 000283 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/RPM AND EUR/SCE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR MW SUBJECT: MONTENEGRO: PROGRESS REPORT ON NATO-RELATED REFORMS REF: (A) PODGORICA 265; (B) PODGORICA 278 ; (C) STATE 83856 PODGORICA 00000283 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Against the backdrop of Montenegro's official request last week to be invited to MAP next April, the GoM continues to work hard on fulfilling the USG's NATO-related priorities (Ref C). Notably, the MoD is on track to fulfill its goal of participation in two NATO partnership exercises and to deploy a properly trained peacekeeping unit in 2009. The GoM has issued a tender to contract an outside PR firm to help beef up its mass media campaign and should have the firm on board by early December. Additionally, the GoM is awaiting official certification from a NATO team of its new NATO-standard secure communication facility. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (SBU) The bilateral Montenegro - U.S. working group (Ref A and previous) met on November 7 to review progress towards achieving NATO-related goals. The state budget -- which reportedly allocates 50 million euros for defense spending in 2009 -- (roughly 1.5 percent of projected GDP) -- has just been approved by the GoM and is now awaiting official approval from the parliament. Fresh on the heels of the PM's trip to Brussels and delivery of the GoM's formal request to NATO for MAP in April (REF B),the Montenegrin side seemed energized and confident. They all agreed that the budget would be approved in short order and were pleased with the budget figures. ¶3. (SBU) MoD officials provided details on procurement activities in 2008, highlighting that they already had spent Euro 400,000 on NATO- interoperable pistols and rifles and planned to purchase an additional one million Euros worth of NATO-Standard 5.56mm rifles by the end of 2008. Also in the works are plans to purchase 14 transport vehicles (total cost estimated at 1.3 million Euros) and four lightly armored wheeled vehicles for one million Euros. Bids on these tenders have been received and officials told us that they would decide soon which makes and models to purchase. Officials also outlined plans to commit more than two million Euros towards the purchase of individual combat equipment and uniforms. ¶4. (SBU) MoD officials stated they are working directly with the Macedonian military to train a three person medical team for deployment to ISAF in early 2009 as a part of the Adriatic Charter's regional contribution to a military hospital presently under the command of Czech Republic forces. The GoM also continues to move ahead with plans to deploy a unit to Afghanistan. The military has recruited two platoons of volunteers that are in training at the Danilovgrad facility, and the GoM intends to deploy one platoon to ISAF, most likely in ¶2009. Montenegrin A/CHOD Samardzic traveled to Washington October 25-30 and met with senior U.S. military officials to discuss issues such as the feasibility of a train and equip package using Coalition Support Funds. ¶5. (SBU) The GOM has finished work on a secure communication facility designed to comply with NATO standards and is now awaiting official certification from a NATO team. The director of the Information Security Directorate happily reported that his organization is up and running, all tests have been completed, by-laws adopted, personnel trained, and a budget for the office approved. NATO officials are scheduled to visit Montenegro 12-14 November to certify the office and the implementation of the NATO Security Agreement. ¶6. (SBU) Montenegro has already participated in one PfP exercise, and has plans to join three more in 2009. ¶7. (SBU) In addition to bringing on a PR firm to help with marketing efforts, the Coordination Team for the "Implementation of the Communications Strategy on Euro-Atlantic Integrations" recently completed several planned initiatives aimed at boosting public support for NATO membership. These events have targeted specific groups, such as journalists, academics, and local politicians, and the GoM has a full slate of activities planned for December. This includes increased public statements by high officials, further parliamentary discussions aimed at bringing the opposition into the debate, and continued engagement with Croatian colleagues who offer insight on their nations' experiences in similar activities. ¶8. (SBU) Maximum use of the Individual Partnership Plan activities remains on track, with 69 percent of Montenegro's requested and planned activities for the year already completed. GoM officials also stated that they see no issues or constraints with meeting the five remaining Partnership Goals due by the end of 2008. ¶9. (SBU) Buoyed by the PM's recent trip to Brussels, the team seem positive about their progress to date and plans to meet the outlined goals. The GoM plans to convoke NATO Ambassadors by the PODGORICA 00000283 002.2 OF 002 end of November, and the MoD has invited all Defense Attaches from NATO countries to hear the Minister of Defense present a progress report on the GOM's progress thru PfP on Friday, November 14. It is likely that the GoM will use both meetings to push their MAP aspirations for the April 2009 NATO Summit. MOORE