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Opening the NATO Youth Summit in Budva, hosted by the Atlantic Alliance of Montenegro, NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Shekerinska said the alliance will remain committed to the region, which she expects to be more “Western” than “Balkan”.
Shekerinska stressed that the Western Balkans are of strategic importance to NATO, but that stability in the region is undermined by the "nationalist and separatist" rhetoric that, according to her, continues to be heard.
"This region is important to us, but we expect more from the region itself in solving problems. Problems are not solved with hatred and division, but with hard work and cooperation ."
She warned that the next NATO summit in The Hague, to be held in July, will focus on the Alliance's unity and ability to protect all allies. According to her, this includes further increasing defense investment.
"If you want to avoid war, you have to prepare for it. We invest in defense because we want to avoid war. If we show strength, unity and determination to protect every ally, that is the way to avoid war ," Shekerinska said.
She emphasized that many NATO allies have already exceeded the figure of 2 percent of Gross Domestic Product in defense spending, while countries close to Russia are investing up to 4 percent, and some of them have even promised 5 percent defense spending.
" This clearly shows the extent of the threat that everyone feels ," Shekerinska stressed.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte also addressed the summit participants through a video message, saying that the alliance is more needed than ever before due to increasing insecurity and war in Europe.
" For the security challenges we face today, we also need the opinions of young people ."
Rutte said that the 32 NATO member countries are committed to keeping the world safe.
Montenegrin President Jakov Milatovic said that by joining NATO, the country has strengthened security in the entire region. He added that Montenegro is among the countries that already allocate over 2 percent of their budget to defense, and warned that there could be a further increase in the defense budget.
The NATO Youth Summit is being held for the first time in Montenegro and brings together young leaders, decision-makers and experts from the fields of security, cyber technology, artificial intelligence and other sectors./ REL
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