SOLANA PROPOSES UNION OF SERBIA, MONTENEGRO

BELGRADE, Feb 22 (Hina) - The European Union's High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, Javier Solana, has proposed the establishment of a Serbian-Montenegrin union in an article written for Friday's issue of Podgorica's "Vijesti" daily. According to Solana, the union would have several responsibilities, leaving enough room for its member-republics to administer their own affairs. The union would have one seat in the United Nations, but it would give Montenegro an important international role. It would include a protective mechanism which would prevent Montenegro from being ever again dominated by Serbia the way it was dominated during Milosevic's regime, Solana writes. Solana's plan also includes a regulation which would enable each republic, within the next several years, to reconsider the arrangement and decide about its future. There remains the commitment to elaborate on many aspects of the plan in talks between Podgorica and Belgrade, Solana said. The high EU official stressed that the EU had not forgotten Montenegro's crucial role in the dark years of Milosevic's regime and that its proposal on the future status of Montenegro was an expression of genuine concern of a true friend and future European partner. Following yesterday's talks in Belgrade with Yugoslav, Serbian and Montenegrin officials, Solana and his interlocutors merely expressed optimism and hope that a solution to the relationship between Serbia and Montenegro would be found soon. (hina) sb rml