Montenegrin parliament to declare independence

Montenegro’s parliament is to declare independence for the tiny Balkan republic today, forming a new European state and formally dissolving what was left of Yugoslavia.

The assembly is expected to verify the results of a May 21 referendum – when the Montenegrins supported a split from the Serbia-Montenegro union by a slim margin – and formally proclaim a declaration on independence.

The move will mark the formal end of the Serbia-Montenegro union, the last shred of what was once Yugoslavia, following years of crisis in the Balkans that began when the federation of six republics disintegrated in violence in the 1990s.

Serbia opposed previous declarations of independence by Slovenia, Croatia and Bosnia, triggering nearly a decade of wars and leaving millions of people homeless.

Although peaceful, Montenegro’s independence bid also was marked by friction with Belgrade. Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica initially disputed the referendum outcome and refused to congratulate Montenegro on its regained statehood.

No Serbian officials are expected to attend the independence ceremonies in the Montenegrin capital of Podgorica. The office of the liberal Serbian president, Boris Tadic, who has recognised Montenegro independence, said he cannot come to Podgorica because of other arrangements.

Montenegro was an independent kingdom in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, but it abandoned its statehood to join a new Serb-led Balkan union in 1918.

Montenegro, a mountainous republic of 620,000 people, was the only one of the republics to stay with Serbia after the split-up of Yugoslavia, but it gradually has edged away from its much larger partner and toward independence.

However, Montenegrins remain deeply split over relations with Serbia - indicated by the results of the May 21 vote, when 55.5% supported the split from Serbia and 44.5 opposed it. The European Union previously had set a 55 percent threshold to validate the independence decision.

Some opposition parties in Montenegro said they would boycott the special parliament session, in a protest against the government of Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic.

The declaration on independence is expected to include guidelines for future policies of the independent Montenegro, as well as the guidelines for the formal split with Serbia and immediate diplomatic steps by the new state.

The ceremonious session is to be carried live on the Montenegrin state television. After the meeting, the authorities will raise a red-golden Montenegrin flag on the parliament building and play the ancient Montenegrin anthem Oh, The Bright May Dawn.