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

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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

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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