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Montenegro Begins Membership Action Program With NATO Grand Central Times January 10th, 2021 The chances for Montenegro to become part of the European Idea increased today due to NATO begining negotiations for the country’s Membership Action Program. While there are still hurdles to Montenegro’s ascension into the security alliance, the most concerning issue is the ethnic divide that still sparks tension in the small Balkan nation. A significant portion of the population in the northern end of the country are ethinically Serbian, with some having a strong nationalism towards Serbia itself. Despite past incidents involving Serbian nationalists, the lack of a popular seccesionist movement has not raised concerns with the Montenegrin government. President Enian Demisovski has conducted several reforms that have encouraged national unity, with polls having shown support for his governments initiatives by most Montenegrins, including ethnic Serbs. With growing ethnic stability in the country, some speculate that this is the reason behind NATO's decision to move forward with the country's application. Montenegrin and British soldiers after last year's joint exercise with NATO.  With Montenegro becoming independent in 2006, the small nation declared it's own identity and has been on the path of becoming a stable country of the region. It's neighbour, Serbia, is still reeling from Montenegros independence, something that has only grown more pronouced since the ultranationalist Serbian United People's Party (SUNS) came into power last year following the collapse of the previous government. A key platform of the party has been to claim that Serbia was robbed of it's economic potential by NATO and the EU due to their support of Montenegro's and Kosovo's independence. This harsh claim has done little to win over support from the majority of Serbs residing in the two small Balkan nations, many of which are enjoying the prospects of the two countries growing economies, while Serbia struggles to stablize theirs.  Grand Central Times William Westmoreland