“Montenegro, Kosovo to establish diplomatic relations”

The Montenegrin government has instructed its Foreign Ministry to establish diplomatic relations with Kosovo, writes daily Vijesti. According to the daily, the information is revealed in an annual report on the implementation of the Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP) pertaining to Montenegro’s progress in NATO integration, which was adopted by the government at the beginning of the year. “Montenegro, Kosovo to establish diplomatic relations” The document also says that talks are under way between Montenegrin and Kosovo officials regarding the opening of a new road and two joint border crossings. The daily writes that on Oct. 9, 2008, the Montenegrin government unanimously reached a decision to recognize Kosovo as an independent and sovereign state and the Foreign Ministry is now in charge of establishing relations with the province. Kosovo officials announced plans for more robust relations between Podgorica and Pristina at the beginning of December last year. Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci said that a Kosovo embassy would soon be opened in Podgorica and that he expected Montenegro to establish a diplomatic presence in Pristina soon too, according to Vijesti. The newspaper added that Kosovo President Fatmir Sedjiu was even more specific in stating that Kosovo would open an embassy in Podgorica at the beginning of this year. Montenegrin President Filip Vujanovic responded to those announcements at the beginning of January, saying that the Montenegrin minority in Kosovo needed to be recognized and conditions provided for the return of non-Albanian residents from Montenegro to Kosovo before diplomatic relations were established with Pristina. However, these conditions are not mentioned in the government document, says Vijesti. The annual report lists cooperation with Kosovo in 2008-09 and developing cooperation with UNMIK/Kosovo as priorities. Discussions with UNMIK/Kosovo about establishing the location and dynamics of a shared border crossing on the Murino-Cakor-Pec road are planned to continue, as are talks on creating conditions for opening a new road there. Another task is continuing talks with UNMIK/Kosovo about establishing the location and dynamics for another joint border crossing on the Rozaje-Kula-Pec road. The government document states that the project for that border crossing was drawn up by the EU. In addition to contacts about building shared border crossings and roads, Vijesti writes that cooperation between Montenegrin police and the new Kosovo Security Forces will be scaled up in the near future, chiefly to prevent cross-border crime and to combat drug trafficking.

“Montenegro, Kosovo to establish diplomatic relations”

The document also says that talks are under way between Montenegrin and Kosovo officials regarding the opening of a new road and two joint border crossings.

The daily writes that on Oct. 9, 2008, the Montenegrin government unanimously reached a decision to recognize Kosovo as an independent and sovereign state and the Foreign Ministry is now in charge of establishing relations with the province.

Kosovo officials announced plans for more robust relations between Podgorica and Priština at the beginning of December last year.

Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci said that a Kosovo embassy would soon be opened in Podgorica and that he expected Montenegro to establish a diplomatic presence in Priština soon too, according to Vijesti.

The newspaper added that Kosovo President Fatmir Sedjiu was even more specific in stating that Kosovo would open an embassy in Podgorica at the beginning of this year.

Montenegrin President Filip Vujanović responded to those announcements at the beginning of January, saying that the Montenegrin minority in Kosovo needed to be recognized and conditions provided for the return of non-Albanian residents from Montenegro to Kosovo before diplomatic relations were established with Priština.

However, these conditions are not mentioned in the government document, says Vijesti.

The annual report lists cooperation with Kosovo in 2008-09 and developing cooperation with UNMIK/Kosovo as priorities.

Discussions with UNMIK/Kosovo about establishing the location and dynamics of a shared border crossing on the Murino-Čakor-Peć road are planned to continue, as are talks on creating conditions for opening a new road there.

Another task is continuing talks with UNMIK/Kosovo about establishing the location and dynamics for another joint border crossing on the Rožaje-Kula-Peć road.

The government document states that the project for that border crossing was drawn up by the EU.

In addition to contacts about building shared border crossings and roads, Vijesti writes that cooperation between Montenegrin police and the new Kosovo Security Forces will be scaled up in the near future, chiefly to prevent cross-border crime and to combat drug trafficking.