“Montenegro not waiting on ICJ decision”

Montenegro has no reason to wait for the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) stance on Kosovo's UDI before establishing diplomatic relations with Pristina. This is according to Montenegrin Foreign Affairs Minister Milan Rocen, who said that diplomatic relations with Kosovo are a “finished story” and that Montenegro will respond to the ICJ’s stance in the same way that the majority of EU member-states that have recognized Kosovo. “Montenegro not waiting on ICJ decision” In February 2008, the province's ethnic Albanians unilaterally declared independence. Serbia rejected this as an illegal act of secession, and asked the ICJ to give its opinion on the legality of the proclamation under international law. Now Rocen stated that Montenegro was "respectful enough to Serbia by waiting for the debate process before the ICJ to end". Podgorica recognized the declaration last year one day after the UN General Assembly voted to send the Kosovo case to the ICJ; this resulted in its ambassador to Belgrade being expelled from the country. Rocen further noted that the “overall relations between Montenegro and Serbia, which are made up of many ties, cannot be looked at through the Kosovo prism alone.” “We understand the interest Serbia, but we expect Serbia to understand us as well,” Rocen told Podgorica daily Vijesti. Commenting on statements made by Montenegrin President Filip Vujanovic and Deputy Prime Minister Svetozar Marovic that Montenegro will respect the decision of the ICJ and that it will not establish diplomatic relations with Pristina before the decision, he said that these are the "thoughts of responsible people". “These are the thoughts of responsible people in the Montenegrin government, while the government that conducts the foreign policy, it has its own decision on recognizing Kosovo, which will be realized fully with the establishment of diplomatic relations. For that the Foreign Affairs Ministry is responsible,” he said. Asked whether Serbia will understand this decision, Rocen said that this question "should not be the focus of relations between the two countries again". “It is a finished story. When you recognize a country, then the next logical phase is to establish diplomatic relations,” Rocen said. The Montenegrin minister also stated that Serbia’s demand for Montenegro to refrain from doing so before the ICJ decision is a "legitimate demand", and that Montenegro "has its own interests".

“Montenegro not waiting on ICJ decision”

In February 2008, the province's ethnic Albanians unilaterally declared independence. Serbia rejected this as an illegal act of secession, and asked the ICJ to give its opinion on the legality of the proclamation under international law.

Now Roćen stated that Montenegro was "respectful enough to Serbia by waiting for the debate process before the ICJ to end".

Podgorica recognized the declaration last year one day after the UN General Assembly voted to send the Kosovo case to the ICJ; this resulted in its ambassador to Belgrade being expelled from the country.

Roćen further noted that the “overall relations between Montenegro and Serbia, which are made up of many ties, cannot be looked at through the Kosovo prism alone.”

“We understand the interest Serbia, but we expect Serbia to understand us as well,” Roćen told Podgorica daily Vijesti.

Commenting on statements made by Montenegrin President Filip Vujanović and Deputy Prime Minister Svetozar Marović that Montenegro will respect the decision of the ICJ and that it will not establish diplomatic relations with Priština before the decision, he said that these are the "thoughts of responsible people".

“These are the thoughts of responsible people in the Montenegrin government, while the government that conducts the foreign policy, it has its own decision on recognizing Kosovo, which will be realized fully with the establishment of diplomatic relations. For that the Foreign Affairs Ministry is responsible,” he said.

Asked whether Serbia will understand this decision, Roćen said that this question "should not be the focus of relations between the two countries again".

“It is a finished story. When you recognize a country, then the next logical phase is to establish diplomatic relations,” Roćen said.

The Montenegrin minister also stated that Serbia’s demand for Montenegro to refrain from doing so before the ICJ decision is a "legitimate demand", and that Montenegro "has its own interests".