Montenegrin PM proclaims victory for independence camp
Montenegrin Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic has proclaimed victory for the pro-independence camp following a referendum vote on splitting from Serbia.
"Let me tell you that tonight, by the decision of the people of Montenegro, an independent Montenegro has been renewed," Djukanovic told his supporters.
Djukanovic said that 55.5 percent of those who have voted in Sunday's referendum "gave support to a renewal of the independent state of Montenegro."
That result is only marginally above the 55 percent majority required for the referendum decision to be valid.
Djukanovic said that, with 99 percent of all votes counted, the 'yes' camp had garnered 45,000 more votes than the rival bloc supporting the union with Serbia.
Speaking at the government building in the capital Podgorica he also insisted that the final outcome would not be affected by the remaining ballots,
"This is the most important day in the history of Montenegro," said a jubilant Djukanovic, long-time advocate of the independence for the republic.
Unofficial projections also gave the pro-independence camp just over 55 percent of votes cast.
The opposition favouring continued union with Serbia said it would wait for the official results due later Monday, noting that their estimates showed a lead for the pro-independence bloc, but short of the EU-required 55 percent threshold.
Djukanovic called on "all citizens of Montenegro to celebrate with dignity," adding that no one "should feel defeated."
"There are and there should be no losers in the independent Montenegro," he said.
If confirmed on Monday, the decision of Montenegro -- a tiny Balkan republic with a population of only 650,000 -- would mark the final breakup of the six states of the old Yugoslavia after the blood-soaked wars of the 1990s after which Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Macedonia left the federation.
As he arrived at the government seat, Djukanovic was greeted by lengthy applause by pro-independence supporters.
His address was often interrupted with chants of "We have the state!" "Viva Montenegro," "Milo, Milo!" and the Montenegrin traditional anthem.
"I want to thank the European Union which has helped us hold this process as we wanted," said Djukanovic.
Calling on the EU to "help Montenegro on its European path," Djukanovic said "independence is in the interests of our European future."
"Montenegro is a new independent state, a new member of the United Nations, a state that aims to become a full-right member of the community of European nations as soon as possible," he said.
Djukanovic said he also wanted "to congratulate independence for the state of Serbia," Montenegro's partner in the loose union formed in 2003 under the auspices of the EU.
"I hope that independent Serbia will quickly overcome obstacles on its way to the European Union," Djukanovic said in a reference to the international pressure on Belgrade to arrest top war crimes fugitives.
Earlier this month Brussels suspended talks with Belgrade over its failure to capture Ratko Mladic, the former Bosnian Serb army chief indicted for genocide and war crimes related to Bosnia's 1992-1995 conflict
AFP
