Angry reactions to Podgorica's move

Serbian officials and parties have reacted with anger at the Montenegrin decision to recognize Kosovo Albanians' unilateral independence declaration. And while Montenegrin Ambassador Anka Vojvodic, who was this evening officially notified that she has become persona non grata in Serbia, prepares to leave the country, Minister for Kosovo Goran Bodganovic reacted to the news out of Podgorica by saying that it is something "least expected and desired". Angry reactions to Podgorica's move In a strongly worded statement, Bodganovic, DS, said that "this is the first time that Montenegro has betrayed Serbia". "It will have a negative effect on the Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija, who expected that brotherly Montenegro would support them, while it joined the ranks of those who have recognized Kosovo," he said. "We will still advocate a peaceful solution for the issue of Kosovo and Metohija and a return to the negotiating table, so that it could be solved to the benefit of all citizens," the minister concluded. Meanwhile, also in Belgrade tonight, Deputy PM and Interior Minister Ivica Dacic, SPS, said that the government in Podgorica "obviously made its decision under pressure", but that it did not have to recognize Kosovo. The move, Dacic continued, "will have lasting consequences on the relations between the two countries, but also on that between the Serb and Montenegrin peoples". "It's hard to believe that Egypt, Indonesia, Spain or Panama understand the importance of Kosovo for Serbia and for Montenegro better than Montenegro itself," he said. Dacic added that a revision of the epic Montenegrin poetry might be in order, to reconsider the notions of heroism and strength of character, "since throughout their history Montenegrins have fought against the Turks and, together with Serbia, liberated Kosovo from the Turkish and Albanian occupation". Former Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica, DSS, reacted tonight with a statement for Beta news agency, which said that Serbia must file a lawsuit over Podgorica's Kosovo decision today. "That would be an adequate answer and a warning to other countries not to engage in illegal recognitions of Kosovo," he said. Kostunica also said that it was "a great pity" that this Serbian government could not muster enough strength to sue the states that opted to recognize Kosovo before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), since requesting merely the tribunal's opinion did not halt the recognitions. "This is clearly visible with the speedy Montenegrin and Macedonian recognitions of Kosovo," which came after the UN General Assembly accepted Serbia's resolution, Kostunica said.

Angry reactions to Podgorica's move

In a strongly worded statement, Bodganović, DS, said that "this is the first time that Montenegro has betrayed Serbia".

"It will have a negative effect on the Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija, who expected that brotherly Montenegro would support them, while it joined the ranks of those who have recognized Kosovo," he said.

"We will still advocate a peaceful solution for the issue of Kosovo and Metohija and a return to the negotiating table, so that it could be solved to the benefit of all citizens," the minister concluded.

Meanwhile, also in Belgrade tonight, Deputy PM and Interior Minister Ivica Dačić, SPS, said that the government in Podgorica "obviously made its decision under pressure", but that it did not have to recognize Kosovo.

The move, Dačić continued, "will have lasting consequences on the relations between the two countries, but also on that between the Serb and Montenegrin peoples".

"It's hard to believe that Egypt, Indonesia, Spain or Panama understand the importance of Kosovo for Serbia and for Montenegro better than Montenegro itself," he said.

Dačić added that a revision of the epic Montenegrin poetry might be in order, to reconsider the notions of heroism and strength of character, "since throughout their history Montenegrins have fought against the Turks and, together with Serbia, liberated Kosovo from the Turkish and Albanian occupation".

Former Prime Minister Vojislav Koštunica, DSS, reacted tonight with a statement for Beta news agency, which said that Serbia must file a lawsuit over Podgorica's Kosovo decision today.

"That would be an adequate answer and a warning to other countries not to engage in illegal recognitions of Kosovo," he said.

Koštunica also said that it was "a great pity" that this Serbian government could not muster enough strength to sue the states that opted to recognize Kosovo before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), since requesting merely the tribunal's opinion did not halt the recognitions.

"This is clearly visible with the speedy Montenegrin and Macedonian recognitions of Kosovo," which came after the UN General Assembly accepted Serbia's resolution, Koštunica said.