US backs Montenegro NATO-membership

[politicus]

Monday Joe Biden told Montenegrin Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic that the US will support NATO membership for Montenegro, when NATO makes a decision on Montenegro’s membership in December - provided that it continues pursuing reforms and boosts popular support for membership.

Biden also commended Montenegro’s defence-, intelligence- and justice reforms and its fight against corruption and organized crime.

The population remains divided. The large Serbian minority is massively against and still angry at NATO’s bombing campaign in Serbia in 1999.

A recent poll showed Montenegrins are almost equally divided about membership with a quarter still undecided.

Yes 36.3
No 37.3 
Not sure 26.1

The government will step up its membership propaganda (eh, information campaign) in the coming months. So interesting how high a number the Obama administration will accept. 50%+ is unrealistic. I consider the "continued reforms" part mere talk. The Djukanovic administation is already pursuing a rapid reform tempo.