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		</div><p>Nato member states have formally invited Montenegro to join the alliance, drawing a prompt response from Russia that it plans to suspend cooperation with the tiny Adriatic nation.</p>
<p>US Secretary of State John Kerry insisted that Nato is “not a threat to anybody”.</p>
<p>Alliance secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg said the invitation to Montenegro reaffirmed Nato’s “open door” policy toward potential member states including Georgia, and promised a statement later with “renewed commitments to our strong support of Georgia’s aspiration for Nato membership” – another move that could rankle Moscow.</p>
<p>Mr Stoltenberg announced the “historic” invitation to Montenegro today, the second day of a two-day meeting of Nato foreign ministers.</p>
<p>“Today, we took another step toward the full integration of Europe and toward the common defence by inviting Montenegro into the alliance,” Mr Kerry said.</p>
<p>The planned expansion of the alliance rooted in the Cold War, which grew to 28 members in 2009, comes amid rising tensions between Nato and Russia over a variety of issues including Syria, the conflict in eastern Ukraine, Russia’s annexation of Crimea and a new Russian assertiveness in the skies in northern Europe.</p>
<p>Russia has opposed the Nato accession of Montenegro.</p>
<p>President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, told reporters that Russia will be looking at possible retaliatory measures.</p>
<p>Viktor Ozerov, chairman of the defence committee at the upper house of the Russian parliament, told state-owned RIA Novosti news agency on Wednesday that Russia will freeze joint projects with Montenegro including defence cooperation.</p>
<p>Mr Kerry sought to dispel Moscow’s concerns.</p>
<p>“Nato is not a threat to anybody,” he said. “It’s not an offensive organisation.</p>
<p>“It’s a defensive alliance. It is meant to simply provide security. It’s not focused on Russia per se or anybody else.”</p>
<p>Montenegrin defence minister Milica Pejanovic Djurisic said the invitation “is a confirmation of our great progress in the sectors of defence and other areas relevant to the alliance accession”.</p>
<p>In 1999, Montenegro, then in a union with Serbia, was heavily bombarded in the first waves of Nato airstrikes which were triggered by Serbia’s violent crackdown against independence-seeking Kosovo Albanians.</p>
<p>During the three-month bombardment, Montenegro became refuge for Serbia’s pro-Western opposition leaders and dissidents who were persecuted by Serbia’s then-leader, Slobodan Milosevic.</p>
<p>Srdjin Milic, leader of Montenegro’s pro-Russian opposition, said Nato’s formal invitation “represents an aggression on peace, stability and security of citizens of our country”.</p>
<p>Several recent protests by thousands in Montenegro against the pro-Nato government have turned violent.</p>
<p>The announcement sets in motion an accession process that will continue over months before Montenegro formally joins. Until all Nato states ratify the decision, Mr Stoltenberg said Montenegro will be a non-voting participant in meetings.</p>
<p>The last members to join Nato were fellow Balkan countries Albania and Croatia in 2009.</p>
<p>Russia, which has traditionally strong religious, cultural and historic influence in the Balkans, has been opposed to Montenegro&#8217;s membership bid, fuelling anti-NATO sentiments among many Montenegrins.</p>
<p>Several protests by thousands of people in the capital, Podgorica, against the pro-Nato government have turned violent recently.</p>
<p>Montenegro, with a population of just over 600,000, split from much bigger Serbia in 2006.</p>
<p>The current Serbian right-wing government has said it has no intention of joining Nato, although it maintains close relations with the alliance and wants to become a European Union member.</p>
<p>“Inviting Montenegro is a big day for the Western Balkans as well,” MR Djukanovic said. “I believe this will be the wind in the sails for reform and integration processes in the neighbourhood.</p>
<p>“Our country’s membership in Nato will strongly contribute to regional stability and security.”</p>
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