Montenegro hopes to get NATO invitation this year

Source: Beta

PODGORICA -- "Despite different announcements" the Montenegrin government still expects the country to be invited to join NATO during the alliance's summit in September.

A view of Podgorica (file)

The government said it would engage in "increased political activity to win greater public support for NATO membership," Beta reported.
Leaders of political parties in the ruling coalition are said to have agreed that this was "one of the political priorities in the coming months."

The party leaders met on Tuesday and agreed to also step up "party line" activities to create an environment that would lead to greater public support for membership in NATO.

That support is now at about 40 percent, "which is not yet sufficiently credible for NATO itself."

The opposition, meanwhile, insists that Montenegro will not receive an invitation to join the Western military alliance at the summit to be held in Wales.

NATO has not yet specified whether the issue of its enlargement will be on the agenda of the summit