Montenegro: No promises on Kosovo

Montenegrin Foreign Minister Milan Roćen says that Podgorica has not promised anything to Belgrade or Priština as regards recognition of Kosovo independence.

Izvor: FoNet

Thursday, 03.07.2008.

12:09

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Montenegrin Foreign Minister Milan Rocen says that Podgorica has not promised anything to Belgrade or Pristina as regards recognition of Kosovo independence. “We are in contact with both Belgrade and Pristina. However, we are not obliged to tell Belgrade that we will not recognize Kosovo, or vice versa,” Rocen told Podgorica daily Vijesti. Montenegro: No promises on Kosovo The minister said that “there is no question of any kind of promise,” adding that Montenegro’s overriding interest was to have “the best possible relations” with everyone in the region. “We are getting different messages from Serbia and Kosovo and from those in Montenegro that support Serbia or Kosovo. We respect all that, but, first and foremost, we are concerned about Montenegro, and the interests of the country and our citizens,” Rocen said. Commenting on opposition party proposals that a referendum should be held in Montenegro on Kosovo recognition, the foreign minister said that he had never heard of one country holding a referendum on whether or not to recognize another. Rocen said that Montenegro’s official view was already well-known, and that a decision would be taken on Kosovo independence when it was seen to be “politically opportune for Montenegro to do so.” He said that it would be best for Serbia to make contact with the administration in Kosovo while continuing its “diplomatic fight for Kosovo.” Rocen said that he was recommending that “as a friend of Serbia.” Rocen said that the security situation for Serbs in Kosovo could not be ensured without the Albanians, and that no-one could protect Serbian cultural and historical monuments in Kosovo like the Albanians could. “Through history, everyone knows who protected the Pec Patriarchy. You cannot constantly say ‘Kosovo is Serbia,’ and on the other hand ignore the Albanians living in Kosovo,” said the minister. Rocen added that Russia was not leaning on Montenegro in any way as regards a decision on Kosovo’s unilateral independence.

Montenegro: No promises on Kosovo

The minister said that “there is no question of any kind of promise,” adding that Montenegro’s overriding interest was to have “the best possible relations” with everyone in the region.

“We are getting different messages from Serbia and Kosovo and from those in Montenegro that support Serbia or Kosovo. We respect all that, but, first and foremost, we are concerned about Montenegro, and the interests of the country and our citizens,” Roćen said.

Commenting on opposition party proposals that a referendum should be held in Montenegro on Kosovo recognition, the foreign minister said that he had never heard of one country holding a referendum on whether or not to recognize another.

Roćen said that Montenegro’s official view was already well-known, and that a decision would be taken on Kosovo independence when it was seen to be “politically opportune for Montenegro to do so.”

He said that it would be best for Serbia to make contact with the administration in Kosovo while continuing its “diplomatic fight for Kosovo.” Roćen said that he was recommending that “as a friend of Serbia.”

Roćen said that the security situation for Serbs in Kosovo could not be ensured without the Albanians, and that no-one could protect Serbian cultural and historical monuments in Kosovo like the Albanians could.

“Through history, everyone knows who protected the Peć Patriarchy. You cannot constantly say ‘Kosovo is Serbia,’ and on the other hand ignore the Albanians living in Kosovo,” said the minister.

Roćen added that Russia was not leaning on Montenegro in any way as regards a decision on Kosovo’s unilateral independence.

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