"Montenegro to decide on Kosovo alone"

Montenegro shares EU foreign policy, but must determine the "dynamics" of the Kosovo issue alone, says Milo Đukanović.

Izvor: Beta

Tuesday, 15.07.2008.

09:18

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Montenegro shares EU foreign policy, but must determine the "dynamics" of the Kosovo issue alone, says Milo Djukanovic. In an interview with Voice of Russia radio, the Montenegrin prime minister said that his country had not yet taken a stand regarding the independence of Kosovo, adding that this "restraint" was caused by the need to contribute, as a neighbor, to stability in the region and improve relations with Serbia. "Montenegro to decide on Kosovo alone" "We share the foreign policy of the EU and NATO, and what we have insisted on so far and what we are still insisting on is for our European and Euro-Atlantic partners to understand the delicacy of Montenegro's position as the closest neighbor and partner in the region... and to be left to determine ourselves the dynamics of this process in the coming period," he said. Djukanovic stated that this dynamic should be "adjusted to accomplishing Montenegro's most important goals," which are regional stability and cooperation with all the important factors in the region. He also stated that it was Montenegro's clear determination to be part of the EU and NATO, which, he added, meant sharing the foreign policy of member states of these organizations. He also pointed out that this was "beyond any doubt." The prime minister said it was important for Montenegro to preserve its internal political stability, which was "a very demanding job in a small and extremely multi-ethnic country." "We did not want to rush into declaring a stand on Kosovo, taking into consideration the sensitivity of relations between Serbia and Montenegro after Montenegrin independence, and wishing to gradually create better relations with Serbia, through careful action," Djukanovic explained. He stressed that it was "in the best interests of Montenegro and the region for good relations to be built with Serbia as the biggest state in the region, in terms of territory and population," and for "Serbia to be as firmly as possible on the road to European integration." The prime minister added that this would benefit all in the region involved in the process of European integration, and said it was in everybody's interests for Serbia to be in the front lines in joining the European Union. Djukanovic also said that he did not believe Montenegro's striving towards membership of the EU and NATO would undermine its relations with Russia. Milo Djukanovic (FoNet, archive)

"Montenegro to decide on Kosovo alone"

"We share the foreign policy of the EU and NATO, and what we have insisted on so far and what we are still insisting on is for our European and Euro-Atlantic partners to understand the delicacy of Montenegro's position as the closest neighbor and partner in the region... and to be left to determine ourselves the dynamics of this process in the coming period," he said.

Đukanović stated that this dynamic should be "adjusted to accomplishing Montenegro's most important goals," which are regional stability and cooperation with all the important factors in the region.

He also stated that it was Montenegro's clear determination to be part of the EU and NATO, which, he added, meant sharing the foreign policy of member states of these organizations. He also pointed out that this was "beyond any doubt."

The prime minister said it was important for Montenegro to preserve its internal political stability, which was "a very demanding job in a small and extremely multi-ethnic country."

"We did not want to rush into declaring a stand on Kosovo, taking into consideration the sensitivity of relations between Serbia and Montenegro after Montenegrin independence, and wishing to gradually create better relations with Serbia, through careful action," Djukanović explained.

He stressed that it was "in the best interests of Montenegro and the region for good relations to be built with Serbia as the biggest state in the region, in terms of territory and population," and for "Serbia to be as firmly as possible on the road to European integration."

The prime minister added that this would benefit all in the region involved in the process of European integration, and said it was in everybody's interests for Serbia to be in the front lines in joining the European Union.

Đukanović also said that he did not believe Montenegro's striving towards membership of the EU and NATO would undermine its relations with Russia.

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