Serb president accepts vote for separation

SERBIA: Serbia's president Boris Tadic accepted Montenegro's vote for independence yesterday, as the Adriatic republic began to prepare for life as a sovereign state.

"As Serbia's president, I accept the official preliminary results of the Montenegro referendum," he said of Sunday's ballot, in which 55.5 per cent of Montenegrin voters backed the restoration of the region's independence after 88 years tied to Belgrade.

"I supported the preservation of a joint state, but as a democratic president of a democratic republic, I recognise the expression of the free will of the Montenegrin citizens," Mr Tadic added.

He also called for the swift resolution of questions about the ballot raised by Montenegro's anti-independence camp, and for "close co-operation" in future between Serbia's eight million people and the 650,000-strong population of Montenegro.

"Montenegro will have a reliable friend in Serbia, both politically and economically," said Mr Tadic, urging residents of the two republics to work so that "there will never be any walls or barriers" between them.

Vojislav Kostunica, the Serbian prime minister who opposed independence and is under pressure from nationalist forces in parliament, told Montenegro that "not a single doubt" should remain over the referendum results. "Serbia will fully respect the final outcome of the referendum, but we have to wait for the final results," he said. "Every vote should be checked."

The EU and Nato quickly accepted the result and praised the peaceful conduct of the vote, putting pressure on Belgrade not to further strain already tense relations with the West by disputing the outcome.

Serbia's hand was weakened further by its failure to catch war crimes suspect Ratko Mladic, for which the EU has frozen talks with Belgrade, and its need to maintain favour with the international community in tense talks on Kosovo's bid for independence.

Montenegro has now escaped those issues and, as raucous post-referendum celebrations die down, it is looking ahead to life without "big brother" Serbia.

"After a period of possible complaints about the vote, we will verify the results of the referendum in the parliament and proclaim independence," said prime minister Milo Djukanovic yesterday. "After that, we expect quick international recognition."

Montenegro's divorce proceedings from Serbia will have to cover the division of assets and debts between the republics, institute major constitutional changes, and create separate armies, flags and anthems.

They must also resolve the fate of some 2,800 people employed in the machinery of the dying state union, which was cobbled together at the EU's behest in 2003, amid fears of more Balkan bloodshed if Montenegro made a quick break for independence.

"We are ready for direct talks about our future relations with Serbia," Mr Djukanovic said. "I believe those relations should be very close and open." But he also acknowledged the deep resentment felt by the large Serb minority in Montenegro, and the hard work that was needed to soothe it.

"I agree that the divisions run quite deep," said Mr Djukanovic. "But this is a country for all of us, and in this country no one should feel like a loser."

Montenegro looks to its former Yugoslav partner Slovenia as an example of how a small state can develop rapidly and gain entry to the EU and Nato. But it will have to fight rampant crime and corruption to move towards European integration, and make the most of its tourist industry to fill government coffers.

"We will see whether Montenegro will manage to survive as an independent state," said Stanko Radovic, a resident of the pretty coastal town of Budva.

With 10 times more people than Montenegro, Serbia footed the lion's share of the bill for a union that shared only a common diplomatic corps, defence ministry and lots of official cars.

"Perhaps this is for the best," said Serbian cabinet minister Velimir Ilic.

"Serbia has spent long enough worrying about others and spending money on others. The time has come for Serbia to work for itself." - (Additional reporting by Reuters)