DJUKANOVIC: ELECTION RESULT BINDS TO CAUTIOUS POLICY

PODGORICA, April 25 (Hina) - Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic said on Wednesday Sunday's election showed that Montenegrin citizens were split over the issue of Montenegro's independence, which bound the victorious coalition to conduct a cautious policy. "The elections have shown that the Montenegrin society remains split and this binds the government to continue a cautious and sensible policy," Djukanovic told a press conference he held with British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook in Podgorica on Wednesday. Djukanovic's coalition "The Victory Belongs to Montenegro", which advocates Montenegro's independence, has won 36 seats in Montenegro's 77-seat parliament whereas the bloc "Together For Yugoslavia" has won 33 seats, according to final temporary results of the Sunday ballot, announced last night. Speaking after his meeting with Britain's Foreign Secretary Cook, Djukanovic said Montenegro would not take any action which could jeopardise stability in the Balkans. "It is strategically important that we find a common language with Serbia and enable constructive dialogue between relevant political factors in Montenegro in order to define our national and state interest," he said. Cook said that Great Britain had no intention of prescribing relations between Montenegro and Serbia but it wanted those relations to be redefined in line with European negotiating standards. Djukanovic previously claimed that he would call a referendum on independence after the elections, in late June or early July. However, he did not mention that possibility at today's news conference but spoke about stability, democratic development and Euro-integration. Cook, the first Western diplomat to visit Podgorica after the elections, insisted on the need to establish dialogue between Belgrade and Podgorica and reiterated a unanimous message of the international community, forwarded to Montenegro after the elections. Should the referendum be scheduled by mid-July, this would not leave enough time for serious talks with Belgrade, he said. British diplomatic sources say the Montenegrin authorities currently favour the postponement of the referendum, although it is questionable how the Liberal Party, which strongly advocates Montenegro's independence and which is expected to be an influential part of Djukanovic's coalition despite the fact that it holds only six parliamentary seats, will react to this. A British official accompanying Cook told Reuters he was confident that the referendum on Montenegro's future would not be organised before the talks with Belgrade. There will be a referendum and its exact date is hanging in the air but there is reason to believe that it will be held after and not before the talks, he said. (hina) rml,