Washington supports Montenegro cooperation

Washington supports Montenegro cooperation

PODGORICA, Montenegro, Sept. 26 (UPI) -- U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld said Washington fully supports Montenegro's wish to join NATO's Partnership for Peace program.

Rumsfeld met in Podgorica with Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic of Montenegro, the tiny Adriatic country that seceded from the union with Serbia in an independence referendum in May.Addressing reporters after his talks, Rumsfeld said the United States is ready to support Montenegro's aspirations to join NATO and the European Union, the Serbian news agency Beta reported.Rumsfeld said Montenegro has a lot to do in introducing reforms and developing democracy.Among topics discussed was participation of Montenegrin military in international peace missions.From Podgorica, Rumsfeld was to travel to Albania for a conference of defense ministers of the Southeast European countries.

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