MONTENEGRO: Montenegro's prime minister, Milo Djukanovic, declared his Adriatic republic independent from Serbia yesterday and urged his compatriots to set their sights on Nato and EU membership, writes Dan McLaughlin
"Montenegro is a new independent state, a new member of the United Nations, a state that aims to become a full-rights member of the community of European nations as soon as possible," Mr Djukanovic said after 55.4 per cent of Montenegrin voters backed sovereignty in Sunday's referendum.
"We expect to consolidate the process of negotiation with the EU on a stabilisation and association accord as soon as possible," Mr Djukanovic said, referring to the kind of agreement that Brussels was discussing with Serbia until last month, when talks were frozen over Belgrade's failure to catch war crimes suspect Ratko Mladic.
"Full integration of Montenegro into the EU and Nato remains a strategic and national priority of Montenegro," he said.
"I am convinced that, after Bulgaria, Romania and Croatia, Montenegro could be the first next stop for the EU in this region."
Predictions of an easy victory prompted wild celebrations among independence supporters on Sunday night, but the margin of victory narrowed yesterday, prompting pro-union leaders to call for a recount.
"Preliminary results of the referendum process should be rechecked and the ballots at all polling stations again recounted," the pro-Serbian bloc said.
Brussels quickly congratulated Montenegro, however, on a vote that passed off without serious incident and involved a huge 86.3 per cent of voters across a republic that is roughly the size of Northern Ireland and home to 650,000 people.
"We will fully respect the result of the referendum," said EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana, calling the vote "a sign of maturity". Nato secretary general Jaap de Hoop Scheffer also offered congratulations, adding: "The governments in Belgrade and Podgorica must now begin discussing the many bilateral issues that require resolution."
After failing dismally to prevent the bloody break-up of Yugoslavia, the EU had hoped to keep Serbia and Montenegro together in the loose and unwieldy federation that Mr Solana helped create in 2003, and which critics dubbed "Solania". He was also the key proponent of the tough conditions for the referendum, in which 50 per cent of people had to vote and at least 55 per cent of them be in favour of independence for it to pass.
With independence, Montenegro will have to form its own professional military, officially proclaim independence and apply for membership of the UN.
"We were already 90 per cent independent, but now we are 100 per cent independent," Mr Djukanovic said.
In Belgrade, Serbian president Boris Tadic and prime minister Vojislav Kostunica said they would wait for the official result before commenting. But by early evening, even their government ministers were conceding defeat.
Serbian finance minister Mladjan Dinkic said the will of the majority in Montenegro had to be respected, while Rasim Ljajic, who is in charge of Serbia's rocky relations with the UN war crimes tribunal, said a peaceful response to the vote was vital.
"Most important is that the transition period is not painful and that the two states continue their path toward the European Union and that there are no anti-Montenegrin feelings in Serbia, nor anti-Serb in Montenegro," Mr Ljajic said.
Leaders of other former Yugoslav states also urged Belgrade to accept the result. "Yesterday we witnessed the end of project Yugoslavia, which was formed . . . with good intentions," said Macedonian prime minister Vlado Buckovski. "I think it will have a sobering effect on Belgrade and make Serbia turn towards European integration."