Montenegro's Vujanović to visit Serbia

Montenegrin President Filip Vujanovic is to make a three-day visit to Belgrade from May 18 to 20, Podgorica confirmed today. Vujanovic will meet with his Serbian counterpart Boris Tadic and other Serbian officials. Montenegro's Vujanovic to visit Serbia The visit will be the second such by a Montenegrin head of state since the country gained independence at a referendum on May 21, 2006. Beta understands that during his trip, the Montenegrin president will visit Lovcenac, home to the country’s largest Montenegrin community. Tadic made an official visit to Podgorica a few days after the referendum to congratulate Montenegro on gaining full independence. The Serbian president visited Montenegro a second time in June 2006, and was followed soon after by Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic. Since then, Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic has made two official visits to Podgorica, while his Montenegrin counterpart Milan Rocen has returned the courtesy on one occasion. Serbia and Montenegro established diplomatic relations on June 22, 2006, when the two countries’ foreign ministers at the time, Vuk Draskovic and Miodrag Vlahovic, signed a protocol in Belgrade. However, diplomatic relations were effectively suspended on October 9, 2008, when Podgorica decided to recognize Kosovo’s independence declaration. Montenegrin Ambassador to Belgrade Anka Vojvodic was declared a persona non grata in Serbia at the time, though Serbian Ambassador Zoran Lutovac stayed put in Podgorica. According to some sources, the possibility of Vojvodic reassuming her post in Belgrade has not been ruled out, though Montenegrin Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic has said on a number of occasions that he is in “no hurry“ to restore full diplomatic relations with Serbia. By contrast, Vujanovic has said that Serbia and Montenegro should renew full diplomatic relations as soon as possible. Filip Vujanovic (FoNet, archive)

Montenegro's Vujanović to visit Serbia

The visit will be the second such by a Montenegrin head of state since the country gained independence at a referendum on May 21, 2006.

Beta understands that during his trip, the Montenegrin president will visit Lovćenac, home to the country’s largest Montenegrin community.

Tadić made an official visit to Podgorica a few days after the referendum to congratulate Montenegro on gaining full independence.

The Serbian president visited Montenegro a second time in June 2006, and was followed soon after by Deputy Prime Minister Božidar Đelić.

Since then, Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremić has made two official visits to Podgorica, while his Montenegrin counterpart Milan Roćen has returned the courtesy on one occasion.

Serbia and Montenegro established diplomatic relations on June 22, 2006, when the two countries’ foreign ministers at the time, Vuk Drašković and Miodrag Vlahović, signed a protocol in Belgrade.

However, diplomatic relations were effectively suspended on October 9, 2008, when Podgorica decided to recognize Kosovo’s independence declaration.

Montenegrin Ambassador to Belgrade Anka Vojvodić was declared a persona non grata in Serbia at the time, though Serbian Ambassador Zoran Lutovac stayed put in Podgorica.

According to some sources, the possibility of Vojvodić reassuming her post in Belgrade has not been ruled out, though Montenegrin Prime Minister Milo Đukanović has said on a number of occasions that he is in “no hurry“ to restore full diplomatic relations with Serbia.

By contrast, Vujanović has said that Serbia and Montenegro should renew full diplomatic relations as soon as possible.