Montenegro Recognizes Kosovo

Related: Macedonia Recognizes Kosovo's Independence

Macedonian Parliament Calls on Gov't to Recognize Kosovo

The Montenegrin government decided Thursday to recognize the unilaterally proclaimed independence of Kosovo and Metohija and to establish full diplomatic relations with Pristina, Serbian Tanjug News Agency reported citing Montenegrin Foreign Minister Milan Rocen.

The Montenegrin government, led by Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic, made the decision just one day after the UN General Assembly accepted Serbia's draft resolution placing the unilaterally proclaimed independence of Kosovo and Metohija within the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice in The Hague.

Djukanovic was not deterred from this decision even by representatives of the Montenegrin parliamentary opposition with whom he had a 90-minute talks during the break in the government session. In the talks, the opposition representatives made it clear to Djukanovic that they will never recognize such a decision.

On the same day, Serbia said Montenegro's recognition of Kosovo jeopardized regional stability, amplifying fears that the move could reignite tensions in the Balkans.

Montenegrin recognition of Kosovo represents a major blow to Serbia's diplomatic efforts to maintain a claim over Kosovo, which declared independence in February.

Kosovo is considered by Serbs the cradle of their Orthodox Christian religion and statehood.

Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic told the state-run Tanjug news agency in a statement that "the Serbian government has adopted the decision to inform Podgorica that the presence of its official representative in Belgrade is no longer desirable."

He said Serbia's response was "proportionate" because "regional countries have special responsibility in preserving peace and stability in the Balkans."

The Serbian government decided Thursday night to return its ambassadors to all states from which they were recalled for consultations in Belgrade, so that diplomatic activities could continue toward the preservation of the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity, the government Office for Media Relations announced.