Belgrade thanks Podgorica for Montenegro’s restrained position on Kosovo
Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic said in Podgorica on Wednesday, after a meeting with Montenegrin officials, that Serbia appreciates the restraint demonstrated by Montenegro on the issue of Kosovo, and expressed his expectations that this will continue to be so in the future as well.
(KosovoCompromise Staff) Thursday, July 10, 2008
"I conveyed to the sides in the talks in Podgorica Serbia's expectations that Montenegro will continue practicing the principled policy of restraint regarding the recognition of the unilateral independence of Kosovo," Jeremic said after talks with Montenegrin Foreign Minister Milan Rocen.
Nevertheless, Jeremic warned that Serbia will recall its ambassador from Podgorica if Montenegro recognizes the independence of Kosovo.
"Every state which makes a unilateral action jeopardizing the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Serbia cannot rely on maintaing the same level of relations with Belgrade that it had before the recognition of Kosovo," Jeremic said.
Addressing a joint press conference, Rocen said that Podgorica's stand on the question of the independence of Kosovo is familiar and has not changed. At the insistence of reporters that he should clearly state what that stand is, he said he had nothing further to add and that he had been "very clear."
The Serbian foreign minister said that, after the International Court of Justice gives its advisory opinion on the legality of the unilaterally proclaimed independence of Kosovo, it will be easier for states all over the world to make independent decisions regarding this problem.
Asked whether it was his impression from today's talks in Podgorica that Montenegro will recognize this independence but is waiting for a suitable moment to announce this, Jeremic said that this was not his impression, but added that Belgrade understands the internal situation in Montenegro.
