Milo Đukanović

Italy supports Montenegro's bid to join NATO, Italian President Sergio Mattarella said at a meeting with his Montenegrin counterpart, Filip Vujanovic, on Tuesday.

Mattarella said he was confident that Montenegro would obtain an invitation to join the Western military alliance by the end of the year .

Germany's Foreign Minister pledged Berlin's strong support for Montenegro's strategic foreign policy goals of EU and NATO membership, hailing the country as "a success story in the region.

"I would like to see more examples like Montenegro," Steinmeier said on Wednesday after a meeting in Berlin with the Montenegrin Prime Minister, Milo Djukanovic.

BRUSSELS - Establishing better transport connections is crucial for regional development, Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic said at a Western Balkan Six conference in Brussels on Tuesday.

The chairman of the parliamentary defence and security committee, Mevludin Nuhodzic, said on Sunday that he wants senior police and prosecution officials to appear in parliament for questioning after the assassination on Friday of former lawmaker Sasa Markovic.

NATO secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg said on Wednesday that Montenegro has made "real progress towards membership".

Speaking after talks in Brussels with Montenegrin Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic, Stoltenberg said Podgorica had "introduced substantial reforms" to improve the the rule of law in the country as well as the defence and intelligence sectors.

NATO's door is open, Montenegrin PM told

BRUSSELS -- NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has said that the door of the Alliance remains open for Montenegro.

He made the comment after meeting with Montenegrin Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic on Wednesday.

The head of the European Council, Donald Tusk, said on Tuesday after meeting Montenegrin Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic in Brussels, that strengthening the rule of law and fighting against organised crime and corruption were the key issues that Montenegro has to tackle on its path towards the EU.

"Russia won't mind Montenegro joining NATO"

PODGORICA -- Montenegrin President Filip Vujanovic expects his country to be invited to join NATO by the end of the year. He also believes Russia will not "oppose" this.

Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov has urged all Balkan countries to join NATO and the EU, adding that this is the only move that would bring the much-needed security in the region.

Speaking Friday after a meeting with the Prime Minister of Montenegro Milo Djukanovic, Borisov expressed hopes that Montenegro would join NATO by end-2015.

Montenegro pursues NATO admission

A slew of reforms and awareness campaigns are among the steps Montenegro is taking to secure NATO membership before the end of 2015.

French President Francois Hollande (right), with Montenegrin Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic in Paris on December 10th, said his country opposes new NATO members. [AFP]