Serbia and Montenegro Foreign Minister Vuk Draskovic told Radio B92 that, if the unofficial results were confirmed, he could "only congratulate" the citizens of Montenegro "on such a majority and democratic decision".
"This is a historic opportunity for a new start... Constitutional parliamentary monarchy is the best way for Serbia to enter Europe and I hope the Serbian people will not miss this opportunity," said Draskovic.
Belgrade's daily Blic put "Separation" on its front page and quoted former foreign minister Goran Svilanovic as applauding the "clean result" and cautioning that Montenegro, "even after such a decision by its citizens, will not be just one of Serbia's neighbours, but a neighbour with special relations in the interest of both states and their peoples".
Serbian Finance Minister Mladjan Dinkic told Blic that the will of Montenegro's citizens must be respected and that "it is time Serbia turns toward itself and the future of its citizens". "We concerned ourselves with others too much, let's dedicate ourselves to Serbia," he said.
Vesna Pesic of the Civic Alliance of Serbia said Serbian officials should be the first to congratulate Montenegrin Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic "so as to show that they respect democracy".
Aleksandar Vucic, a senior official of the Serbian Radical Party, was quoted by Vecernje Novosti as saying that "if, God forbid, the majority of citizens voted for independence, this would be a tragedy for Serbia" and that for the party, "the point of being in politics would be for the two states to be joined again".
The offices of Serbian President Boris Tadic and Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica said in statements they would address the public once the official results of the referendum were released.