VZCZCXRO5660
PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN
RUEHLZ RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHPOD #0217 2341237
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 211237Z AUG 08
FM AMEMBASSY PODGORICA
INFO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0914
RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEHPOD/AMEMBASSY PODGORICA 0999

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