At the summit in Brussels on December 2, 2015 the foreign ministers of NATO member states decided to invite Montenegro into the Alliance. But that doesn't mean an immediate membership for the Balkan republic...

"Russian peacekeeper" invites foreign observers, experts, public, political figures, historians etc for a discussion of the article on the issue of Russian State Duma's (parliament) member Alexandr Prokopiev and the problems over Montenegro integration into NATO.  

Please, send your comments on the article and the main issues in this regard to the e-mail peacekeeperopinion@gmail.com.

Stephen Lendman (US political observer, writer): 

"US-dominated NATO comprises a global police force, threatening humanity's survival.

America calls the shots, involving Alliance members in wars on three continents - Europe, Asia and Africa. After Soviet Russia's dissolution, NATO expanded exponentially, despite pledging otherwise.

It grew 16 to 28 members, about to add a 29th by admitting Montenegro. Others allied with its killing machine include 22 Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC) nations, seven Mediterranean Dialogue countries and four Istanbul Cooperation Initiative (ICI) states.

They comprise nearly one-third of world nations. Much more expansion is planned, intending new members and partners on all continents.

Washington wants a global military alliance against peace - a dagger at humanity's heart, risking another global war with nuclear weapons, able to end life on earth.

America's rage for unchallenged global dominance risks the scourge of another global war - willing to risk planet earth's destruction to own it, an agenda vital to confront and stop."

Gregor Mathias (doctor of history, research associate of Centre Roland Mousnier, Paris IV Sorbonne):

"Montenegro means in Serbo-Croatian "black mountain", and indeed, the reports are far from this idyllic country. Despite the efforts of political, economic and military integration into the EU and NATO, Montenegro is not nearly as stable. Indeed, the country strives for renewing its political elites. The Socialist Prime Minister Djukanovic has been in power since 1991. After 24 years in power, civil society and the right turned out to fail in political changes. For several weeks demonstrations call for the resignation of Mr Djukanovic before the elections planned for 2016. The protesters fear that the elections are likely to be falsified by the Prime Minister. The architect of integration into NATO and the EU has become the main obstacle to the country's stability. Djukanovic tries to discredit his opponents brandishing the theory of a Russian manipulation.

The demonstrators denounced the persistence of economic stagnation (unemployment – 20%, public debt – 115% of GDP), corruption (the banks have a quarter of their bad debt holdings) and long Djukanivic's being in power that is unusual for a European state. If adhered to the EU Montenegro might become the EU's real Achilles heel because of its shadow economy. The specialists on international crime, JF Gayraud and F. Thual (Geostrategy crime, Editions Odile Jacob, 2012) estimate that the illegal economy represents 50% of GDP. The Albanian and Serbo-Montenegrin mafias are dealing with cigarette smuggling, drugs, weapons, currency counterfeit, human beings illegal trafficking (kid-napping, prostitution). Hence, the nickname given to Montenegro is "narco-negro". Djukanovic was also himself the subject of an international arrest in 2010, when Italy accused him of organizing cigarette smuggling with the help of transnational corporations to bypass the tax system in European countries."

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Dr. Hubert Thielicke (journalist and political scientist, WeltTrends, the foreign policy journal, Germany):

"It is, of course, possible to discuss in depth and for a long time such questions as: "Is Montenegro a real democracy? How corrupt is the present regime? What is the power of the national army?"

In the last instance, it comes down to two main questions.

Firstly, what would the accession of Montenegro to NATO mean under current circumstances? No doubt, it was a geopolical decision by NATO to invite the country for membership, instigated by US circles interested in extending NATO to the West Balkans. It is part of a dangerous concept which leads to the further extension of the Western politico-military alliance to the East and, in the last instance, to the Ukrainian crisis. It is the false signal in the false time. Today it is necessary to strengthen the OSCE in the interest of European security, the main task of the German OSCE chairmanship next year, and to unite all forces against the real enemy - the terrorist movement Islamic State, for what Russia is urgently needed.

Secondly, it is up to the people of Montenegro to decide about the question: "Does NATO accession correspond to our interests and to our historical experience?" After all, it were NATO planes which bombed some years ago towns, bridges etc. in Yugoslavia to which Montenegro belonged at that time. Not so many people might know that it was Russia which very much contributed to the independence of Montenegro in 1878. So, let the people of Montenegro decide! Quite a lot of them have already made clear their will by demonstrating against the pro-NATO decision of their government."

Yugoslav Kipriyanovich (Serbian movement "Dveri"):

"Serbian movement "Doors" is not surprised that a non-democratic, pro-Western and anti-people's regime of Milo Djukanovic continued the destructive path of forced joining of NATO, against the will of Montenegrin citizens.

After NATO recognition of the criminal state of Kosovo Albanians, introducing of Russian sanctions, support for Kosovo's entry into UNESCO, inviting Montenegro into NATO was predictable.

Milo Djukanovic rules Montenegro for 25 years and he has cycled every policy option ranging from a member of the Supreme staff of Slobodan Milosevic and a partner of Russia on the Balkans, to the partition of Serbia and Montenegro and becoming a promoter and implementer of Montenegro integration into NATO.

Since there is much evidence linking regime, friends and Milo Djukanovic's family with organized crime, it is obvious that Djukanovic is no more than a puppet of Western powers.

Since Montenegro's entry into NATO cannot be completed because of the irreconcilable resistance of the people against entering into this military alliance, it's only a matter of time (and a short time) when Djukanovic's regime falls, and the decision on joining NATO reviewed and canceled."

Vladan Glisic (leader of movement "Narodna Mreza", Serbia): 

"Unsaid things about consequences of NATO bombing.

Dr Danica Grujicic, Dr Ljubiša Jovaševic, General Slobodan Petkovic, Vladan Glišic and Dorde Vukadinovic spoke at a press conference organized by Zdrava Srbija (Healthy Serbia), Narodna Mreza (National Network), PULS and NSPM (New Serbian Political Thought).

First of all, representatives of the health sector presented a series of data on the consequences of NATO bombing to our nation's health. Dr Danica Grujicic (Healthy Serbia) presented data on the cancer epidemic that is ravaging Serbia, about which health institutions remain silent. General Slobodan Petkovi? drew attention to an environmental disaster caused by NATO bombing with depleted uranium.

Dr Ljubiša Jovaševic (PULS) said that the impression is that NATO had a plan during the bombing to empty certain parts of Serbia of people so that in the future they'd become a space for depositing nuclear and other waste.

Vladan Glišic said on behalf of the National Network that that campaign they were starting, with the aim to inform the public about the unsaid consequences of NATO actions in this area, was the start of cooperation with organizations that would conduct that campaign – primarily PULS, Healthy Serbia and NSPM.

Dorde Vukadinovic (NSPM) drew attention to the media censorship that has been present for decades when it comes to consequences of NATO bombing and the fact that despite that our public is united in rejecting the possibility of Serbia becoming a part of NATO.

A joint conclusion is that a Committee of independent experts has to be formed so they would impartially determine the consequences of NATO aggression against our country."

Aleksandar Mitic (chairman of "Center for Strategic Alternatives", Serbia):

"Your article rightly suggests some of the key reasons for NATO's invitation to Montenegro. There are two main targets for NATO's move: Russia and Serbia. For evidence, no need to go further than the recent text by Evelyn N. Farkas, the U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Russia/Ukraine/Eurasia, responsible for defense policy towards the Balkans from 2012 to November 2015. Farkas argues that the move denies Russia a veto in NATO enlargement processes and prevents a "Kaliningrad on the Mediterranean" and, in her words, "a subtle Russian military occupation, exercised through access to bases and stationing of Russian personnel and equipment."

Furthermore, Farkas argues that "Serbia has yet to recognize Kosovo as a sovereign state" and that Montenegro's membership "will only serve to encourage Serbia in its EU-led normalization with Kosovo, since Belgrade's motivation is also obtaining membership, albeit in the EU, not NATO (for the moment, this will likely change)."

The acceptance of Montenegro and possibly Bosnia-Herzegovina (although the President of Republika Srpska Milorad Dodik is currently providing strong resistance to NATO at high political cost) would certainly have an impact on Serbia, as it would mean that a quarter of the total Serb population would be in NATO, thus providing an argument for NATO propagandists to influence the public opinion in Serbia in favor of joing the alliance."

Milica Djurdjevic (press-service chief of organization "Srbski Sabor Zavetnici"):

"The invitation for integrating into NATO given to Montenegro is one of many factors that are destabilizing Balkans. It's also an attempt to create a threat to Russia through strengthening NATO and deploying its bases in the region.

The regime of dictator Milo Djukanovic, the reason of the protests in all the country in which thousands of people have been participating, is trying to integrate Montenegro into NATO and this way provide its further staying in power.

We, Serbian Cathedral Zavetnici, stress that all anti-NATO forces need the support from Serbia and Russia. Djukanovic's regime has the support of Western power houses, predominance in media and a repressive machine, used for political discrimination and persecution of dissidents. But nevertheless the Montegrin people demonstrated that it was strong and brave to oppose vigorously installing NATO protectorate over their country. We pledge our solidarity with the Montegrin people and we will support further efforts aimed at stopping integration of the country into NATO."

Irina Stoyichevic (Serbian political observer):

"It's hard to imagine that the Montenegrin army, corrupt government and the situation with the law and order in the country meet NATO requirements. Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic, has been in power for more than two decades. At the same time local opposition claims that the presidential election was rigged. And it really is so. Djukanovic's "achievements" are the destruction of a common contry with Serbia and attempts to artificially create an unrecognized Montenegrin Orthodox Church and the usurpation of the property of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro."

She is convinced that the country's entry into NATO makes Montenegro an enemy for Russia. In her view, Montenegro has already gone down this path, joining economic sanctions against Russia. This is particularly painful considering the common historical and spiritual roots of both countries, and Russia's assistance to Orthodox people in the Balkans in the past and present.

Irina Stoyichevich stresses the importance of the strategic position of Montenegro in military and economic terms. However, she notes that accession to NATO "has not brought a lot of happiness" to other Eastern European states. She, however, believes that in terms of personal gain and enrichment and hiding a criminal past it's a profitable move for some politicians. This can be a guarantee of personal safety for the current Montenegrin PM, Milo Djukanovic and his inner circle. All this, says the columnist reminds of a criminal conspiracy, when a criminal group, which NATO essentially is, takes a small bandit into its ranks, promising to protect him from competition and law, and in return getting his zone of influence (i.e., the coast and the possibility of building a military base on the Adriatic Sea in relative proximity to Bondsteel - NATO ground forces base in Kosovo).

The observer drew attention to the fact that there was no referendum on this issue in Montenegro. According to her, 70% of the population is against joining the Alliance. We should not forget that in 1999, Montenegro, as well as Serbia, was a victim of NATO aggression.

Rodrigue Khoury (president of the Levant party, Lebanon):

"We believe that the West is doing everything to block Russia. Following the US President’s speech at the UN, 24th September 2014, we were really shocked by Barack Obama's ranking of international threats: deadly Ebola virus top, followed by so-called Russian aggression and ISIS in Syria and Iraq only third... That means that the West considers Russia as a threat, even more dangerous than ISIS.

Thus, we can understand the Western policy. That's why they are supporting the racists in Ukraine. That's why they are supporting the rebels in Syria. They are creating problems everywhere.

The situation in Montenegro is an episode in a big scenario. The West wants to destroy Montenegro from inside by convincing the government to accept 180.000 Muslim refugees from the Middle East as a condition to integrate Montenegro into NATO!!!

They want to destroy Montenegro from inside, to "block Russia" and to loose its zone of influence to isolate Russia."

Nelly Ghulam Mohammad (Information Policy assistant to the president of the Afghan Diaspora Center):

"Montenegro and Serbia are simply an unnessesary military element of building a strong anti-Russian coalition, which will inevitably be brought in line with NATO plans. Whatever the cost to Serbian people, even up to their utter destruction in civil wars, that Americans learned to provoke and control in a professional manner.

Therefore, all doubts about the accession of Montenegro to NATO are only  subject for debate, but not for sober analysis. Montenegro will join NATO! Just like Serbia, subjected to numerous sanctions further applied to Russia.

What can interfere with these plans? Only Russia, without any reference to allies or partners."