Political Quotes

“Mr. President, today I wish to recognize the Senate's historic vote to ratify Treaty 114-12, Protocol to the North Atlantic Treaty of 1949 on the Accession of Montenegro. This represents an important step forward in Montenegro's bid to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, NATO. Maine has strong ties to Montenegro through the National Guard's State Partnership Program, which pairs State National Guards with partner nations around the world. Both parties forge an enduring relationship over the years through training exercises, military-to- military engagement, and security cooperation activities. These relationships are critical to our national security; they improve the capacity of friendly militaries, enhance our interoperability as allies, and allow us to promote our values in emerging nations. Furthermore, they provide members of the Guard with unique opportunities that make them more skilled military professionals and more experienced citizens. The Maine National Guard partnered with Montenegro in December 2006, just 6 months after Montenegro declared its independence. In the decade since, the Maine National Guard has advised and assisted Montenegro as the young nation has transformed its military, transitioning to an all- volunteer force and contributing troops to the coalition fighting in Afghanistan.…”