By Vesna Peric Zimonjic
PODGORICA, Montenegro, May 22 2006 (IPS)

Montenegro became the first new state of Europe in the 21st century after a majority voted in a referendum to break away from Serbia.

According to partial results announced early Monday by the Republican Referendum Commission, 55.4 percent of 485,000 voters were in favour of independence.

The European Union had set a requirement of a minimum of 55 percent of votes for independence in talks with the Montenegrin government headed by Milo Djukanovic and the pro-Serbian opposition led by Predrag Bulatovic.

“The vote represents the final break-up of former Yugoslavia that began in 1991, but this time there is no war or bloodshed,” local analyst Srdjan Darmanovic told IPS.

Former Yugoslavia, comprising Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia fell apart at the beginning of the 1990s in wars that took more than 100,000 lives.

Only Serbia with a population of 7.5 million people and tiny Montenegro with only 620,000 remained together in what was called the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia from 1992 on. It became known as the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro in 2002.

The agreement, sponsored by the European Union, provided that Montenegro could hold a referendum for independence as the separation drive from Serbia became stronger and stronger.

“Everything went according to the highest democratic standards,” Prime Minister Djukanovic told his supporters in the early hours of Monday. “Our independence is in the interest of our European future.”

Both Serbia and Montenegro want to join the EU, but were already holding negotiations along so-called “separate tracks.” Neither is expected to join as full member for another seven or eight years.

“But voting independence is one thing, becoming an internationally recognised nation is something different,” a Podgorica-based EU diplomat told IPS.

“There have to be negotiations now with Belgrade how to divide common property, embassies, foreign deposits, and also how to define relations with Serbia now. Anyhow, everything has to be done smoothly as the region has to remain peaceful and stable.”

The referendum results need to be confirmed by international organisations such as the Organisation for European Security and Cooperation (OSCE). “It’s about dismantling a state, after all,” the EU diplomat said.

In Serbia most leading politicians had used only sentimental arguments in support of a union. Serbs and Montenegrins are the closest relatives in the Balkans; they share the same history and the Serb Orthodox Religion. The pro-Serb bloc remains strong in Montenegro.

Belgrade-based analyst Zoran Lutovac says that the situation is now easier for Serbia.

“Under the EU-sponsored constitutional charter of the state union, Serbia inherits the legal status – UN membership and membership in other international organisations,” Lutovac told IPS. “Montenegro has still to apply and negotiate with many. But first it must wait to be recognised as an independent state. It’s a process that takes time.”

Serbian constitutional court judge Slobodan Vucetic told local media that “Serbia has a clear advantage after the independence vote in Montenegro. It can now proclaim its independence, with only small amendments of the law.”

In Montenegro, not everyone is ecstatic. “With the independence no real problem will be solved,” 32-year-old mechanic Milo Savicevic told IPS. “People will remain jobless, industry idle and living standards low. One does not feed children with independence.” The unemployment rate in Montenegro is above 30 percent.

Others fear Serbia might impose higher education fees for 20,000 Montenegrin students studying there, or introduce a high charge for patients coming from Montenegro for medical care.

“If they do not treat each other as complete foreigners, everything will be okay between us,” said schoolteacher Mirjana Dabic (55). “But I doubt it will happen ever. After all we are now brothers who live in two separate homes.”

Excerpt: