VZCZCXRO6545
PP RUEHIK RUEHYG
DE RUEHPOD #0262/01 2891955
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 151955Z OCT 08
FM AMEMBASSY PODGORICA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0988
INFO RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 0086
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE
RUEHPOD/AMEMBASSY PODGORICA 1076

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 PODGORICA 000262 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EUR/SCE AND EUR/RPM; DEFENSE FOR OSD 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL MARR MW
SUBJECT: ROLE OF PROPOSED NATO OFFICE IN MONTENEGRO 
 
REF: (A) PODGORICA 231 (B) PODGORICA 251 (C) PODGORICA 254 
 
PODGORICA 00000262  001.2 OF 003 
 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary:  Establishment of a NATO office in Podgorica 
will facilitate intensified, practical cooperation between 
Montenegro and the Alliance.  NATO can reap tangible benefits 
quickly, for example, expediting the deployment of Montenegrin 
military units to ISAF and sharing information on regional 
security.  Secondary benefits would include assisting the GoM in 
prioritizing and implementing its partnership obligations and 
helping build public support for NATO membership.  The Ministry 
of Defense is eager to host a NATO team and has offered to 
contribute a fully furnished office, in-country transportation, 
and staff for translation and administrative support.   The 
Montenegrin Parliament's adoption of a law authorizing 
participation in international peacekeeping operations has 
opened the way for the GoM to make a significant contribution to 
NATO.  End summary. 
 
 
 
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INTENSIFIED, PRACTICAL COOPERATION 
 
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¶2. (SBU) A NATO office in Podgorica, depending on its 
configuration, could carry out a range of tasks that would 
advance NATO and U.S. interests.  In addition to points in Ref 
A, the GoM has shared with us its vision for the functions that 
could be carried out by a NATO office based in Podgorica. 
Montenegro is now the only non-invited country in the region 
lacking a NATO presence on the ground.  This limits cooperation 
and communications between the GoM and the Alliance.  However, 
an in-country NATO office could guide concrete Alliance-related 
activities, to include: 
 
 
 
a) Overseeing the ground-based lines of communication (GLOC) 
established under the Transit agreement. 
 
 
 
b) Helping with preparation and certification of Montenegrin 
forces deploying to NATO peacekeeping operations, including 
ISAF, 
 
 
 
The GoM has already committed to deploying a three-person 
medical team to ISAF in February 2009 as part of a Macedonian 
hospital unit and plans to rotate its personnel every six 
months.  Likewise, in cooperation with DoD, the GoM is preparing 
a platoon-sized infantry contingent for possible deployment to 
Afghanistan within a year.  Because these are Montenegro's first 
NATO deployments, the NATO certification process and 
administrative arrangements for executing these missions could 
prove challenging.  Both would be facilitated significantly if 
NATO personnel were in Podgorica. 
 
 
 
c)  Facilitating the exchange of classified information between 
NATO and Montenegro, 
 
 
 
Once the GoM implements its NATO Security Agreement (expected 
next month), it will be in a position to exchange operational 
and other data with NATO.  In view of Montenegro's commitment to 
participate in NATO operations, the exchange of relevant data 
both before and during deployments will take on increased 
significance. While Montenegrin intelligence capabilities are 
still modest and focused primarily on the region, the GoM 
possesses unique capabilities that have proven valuable in the 
past.  NATO in-country personnel, fully engaged with their 
Montenegrin counterparts, could help ensure a high quality and 
complementary exchange of information. 
 
 
 
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ADDED BENEFITS OF BUILDING MONTENEGRO'S PARTNERSHIP 
 
 
PODGORICA 00000262  002.2 OF 003 
 
 
AND PUBLIC SUPPORT 
 
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¶4.  (SBU) Montenegro's political will to join NATO is no longer 
in question.  Not only has the GOM leadership publicly and 
repeatedly stated its commitment, but it has taken an important 
step forward with a parliamentary majority now backing this 
policy (Ref B).  As one of the newest and smallest states in 
Europe, however, Montenegro's democratic institutions face a 
major challenge in navigating the complex process of NATO 
accession.  A NATO office in Podgorica could help the 
Montenegrin leadership prioritize and implement its partnership 
activities in order to accelerate and strengthen the country's 
relationship with the Alliance, for example: 
 
 
 
d)  Assisting Montenegro in identifying, participating in, and 
hosting PFP exercises. 
 
 
 
e)  Helping the GoM through the annual PARP process. 
 
 
 
f)  Providing regular feedback to the GoM on its progress and 
areas for improvement. 
 
 
 
¶5.  (SBU)  Apart from the issues faced by other transitional 
democracies in readying themselves for NATO, the GoM faces the 
challenge of advocating Montenegro's membership in NATO against 
the backdrop of the 1999 NATO intervention here.  A NATO office 
could play an important role in building public support for NATO 
by: 
 
 
 
g)  Advising the GoM on implementation of its NATO 
Communications Strategy, drawing on the experiences of other 
countries that have seen increases in public support for NATO. 
 
 
 
h) Facilitating visits to NATO headquarters, other facilities, 
and/or NATO operations or exercises by military and non-military 
opinion makers. 
 
 
 
i)  Conducting direct public outreach to local audiences. 
 
 
 
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MONTENEGRO'S OFFER TO CONTRIBUTE 
 
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¶6.   (SBU)  The GOM is enthusiastic about the concept of a NATO 
presence in Podgorica.   It has already sent two formal requests 
to NATO headquarters and is taking every opportunity to promote 
the idea during interactions with NATO officials.  Senior MoD 
officials have told us that the GoM is prepared to offer 
furnished office space in the Ministry (including computers and 
other office equipment); staff for translation and 
administrative support; and vehicles for in-country 
transportation. 
 
 
 
¶7.  Comment:  In the last two weeks, the GoM has demonstrated 
clearly its commitment to joining NATO and the EU.  On October 
3, the Parliament passed a resolution endorsing Montenegro's 
pro-NATO policy.   The Parliament then voted to authorize 
Montenegrin participation in international peacekeeping 
operations (Ref C).  Finally, on October 9, the GoM announced 
its decision to recognize Kosovo.   The establishment of even a 
modest NATO presence in Podgorica will send an important signal 
 
PODGORICA 00000262  003.2 OF 003 
 
 
encouraging the GOM to continue on its Euro-Atlantic path, 
despite resistance from the pro-Belgrade opposition.  End 
comment. 
MOORE