U.S. Recognized Newly Independent Nation of Montenegro
The United States has recognized Montenegro as an independent state, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said June 13. Montenegrins voted May 21 to end their 88-year-old union with Serbia, becoming the fifth republic to gain independence from the former Yugoslavia. Montenegro declared independence on June 3 after international election monitors validated the results of its peaceful May 21 referendum. Serbia on June 5 declared itself to be a separate sovereign state and the successor to the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro. The European Union and numerous other states are also issuing formal statements of recognition for Montenegro. "The United States has formally recognized the Republic of Montenegro as a sovereign and independent state," Secretary of State Rice said in a statement read aloud by State Department spokesman Sean McCormack during the June 13 daily press briefing.
The decision to recognize Montenegro was made "following the request of its government and consistent with the provisions of the constitutional charter which established the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro," Rice said. "The charter between Serbia and Montenegro explicitly provided means by which the people of Montenegro could express their will with respect to independence. We congratulate the people of Montenegro for the peaceful and democratic manner in which they conducted their May 21 vote on independence The honor of being counted among the free and independent states of the world brings with it the challenge of protecting and advancing the freedom, rights and prosperity of all the people of Montenegro and the responsibility to make a positive contribution to the community of nations," Rice said. "The United States will be considering in the coming days Montenegro's proposal to begin a process of establishing diplomatic relations. We look forward to continued friendship and cooperation with the people of Montenegro," Rice said, reported the U.S. International Information Programs Bureau.
It should be also noted that June 12 Russian President Vladimir Putin also recognized the independence of Montenegro.
The decision to recognize Montenegro was made "following the request of its government and consistent with the provisions of the constitutional charter which established the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro," Rice said. "The charter between Serbia and Montenegro explicitly provided means by which the people of Montenegro could express their will with respect to independence. We congratulate the people of Montenegro for the peaceful and democratic manner in which they conducted their May 21 vote on independence The honor of being counted among the free and independent states of the world brings with it the challenge of protecting and advancing the freedom, rights and prosperity of all the people of Montenegro and the responsibility to make a positive contribution to the community of nations," Rice said. "The United States will be considering in the coming days Montenegro's proposal to begin a process of establishing diplomatic relations. We look forward to continued friendship and cooperation with the people of Montenegro," Rice said, reported the U.S. International Information Programs Bureau.
It should be also noted that June 12 Russian President Vladimir Putin also recognized the independence of Montenegro.
