(ANSA) - BRUSSELS, MAR 6- NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg met today with the President of Montenegro, Milo Dukanovic, in Brussels. "Our dual policy of deterrence and defense combined with dialogue" with regard to Russia "is the right one" and, together with Montenegro, "we will continue to increase the readiness of our forces and intensify the fight against terrorism ", Stoltenberg said during a joint press point.

Stoltenberg highlighted that Dukanovic "is a strong supporter of NATO's open door policy" and recalled the "important step" made by the Alliance last month welcoming Northern Macedonia.

Podgorica "contributes to the NATO peacekeeping mission in Kosovo, to build stability in the Western Balkans", the Secretary-General of the Alliance added, welcoming Montenegro's decision to increase its defense expenditure "with a plan clear to invest 2% of the GDP in defense by 2024 ".

Skopje and Athens's ability to persevere in reaching the historical agreement on the new name of Macedonia - which opened the doors of NATO to Skopje - "can also be an example for Belgrade and Pristina", as it represents "the only reliable formula for the stability of the Western Balkans ", the President of Montenegro said. "We are aware" that besides EU "other actors are interested in our region", but "we are ready to fully implement the European system of values", Dukanovic assured.(ANSA).