Vice President Biden met today with Montenegrin Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic at the White House. Vice President Biden praised Montenegro as a valuable partner to the United States and contributor to peace and security in the region. The two leaders discussed developments in the Balkans as well as concerns about continued Russian pressure on Ukraine. The Vice President welcomed the strong progress Montenegro has made in meeting the requirements for NATO membership and expressed steadfast U.S. support for Montenegro’s Euro-Atlantic aspirations. He encouraged the Prime Minister to sustain its efforts in making defense, security, and rule of law reforms in order to show concrete achievements in advance of the 2014 NATO summit in Wales. In this context, the Vice President stressed the importance of robust efforts to strengthen democratic institutions, including an independent judiciary and a free press, as well as to protect minority rights.