LJUBLJANA, Nov. 28 -- Slovenia is pushing for NATO to extend its membership in the Western Balkans, the Slovenian Press Agency (STA) quoted Defence Minister Roman Jakic as saying Thursday.

In talks with British Minister for International Security Strategy Andrew Morrison in London, Jakic said that the stability of the Western Balkans was a strategic point for Slovenia, which became a NATO member in 2004.

It is necessary "to at least admit Montenegro, if not also Macedonia" into NATO, Jakic was quoted as saying.

Jakic presented the economic, political, strategic and security reasons for his statement, and rejected a "package" approach to NATO enlargement, as waiting for the slowest and weakest would be "unfair to those who have taken their responsibilities seriously," STA reported.

Montenegro, which declared independence in 2006, was granted a membership action plan by NATO in 2009, an important process to join the alliance. The country expects to become a member at NATO's next summit in 2014.

Macedonia, which declared independence in 1991, has also been included in NATO's membership action plan.