VZCZCXRO9894
PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN
RUEHLZ RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHPOD #0283/01 3181148
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 131148Z NOV 08
FM AMEMBASSY PODGORICA
INFO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1027
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 0094
RUEHPOD/AMEMBASSY PODGORICA 1115

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