Montenegro–Russia relations

Prime Minister Minister Milo Djukanovic on Wednesday said Montenegro expects an invitation to join NATO by the end of the year and is working hard to meet the conditions.

Commenting on the French President's statement of opposition to NATO enlargement, Djukanovic said he did not see in Francois Hollande's words any intention to revise NATO's policy towards Montenegro.

Russia can't veto Montenegrin membership - NATO chief

PODGORICA -- NATO "will not accept Russia's veto on Montenegro's membership in the alliance," Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has been quoted as saying.

"Russia cannot deprive Montenegro of its right to become a member of NATO," he told the Italian Senat's Committee on Defense.

"Russia wants to build base in Montenegro"

PODGORICA -- U.S. Senator Christopher Murphy says Russia is offering Montenegro "billions of dollars to build a military base there."

Meantime, "Montenegro is rejecting such an offer for the sake of its membership in NATO and the EU," he added.

The Montenegrin parliament is shortly to discuss a government proposal to retire all existing intelligence officers aged 50 and older by March 1.

Under an amendment to the law on the National Security Agency, employees with 30 years of work experience, of which at least 15 have been spent working for the Agency, will be retired "under favourable conditions".

"Citizens should decide on Montenegro's NATO membership"

PODGORICA -- Russia's ambassador to Montenegro says it would be democratic to include citizens in the decision making process on Montenegro's NATO membership.

Andrei Nesterenko also spoke against the argument that membership in the military alliance "means more democracy."

The Russian embassy sent a diplomatic note to Montenegro's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration on Thursday, demanding an explanation after the billboards appeared in Podgorica last week.