DJUKANOVIC: NO GIVING UP ON REFERENDUM ON INDEPENDENCE

BELGRADE, Sept 4 (Hina) - Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic denied Tuesday that his meetings with the leaders of Montenegrin political parties mean Montenegro will not be holding the plebiscite on independence. In an interview to Belgrade weekly "Svedok" on Tuesday, Djukanovic said he had proven over the past 15 years he was "a man of his word", who did not "change his opinions from today till tomorrow". The fact that the new Yugoslav constitution was being written in Belgrade without any help from Montenegrin experts and concern about Montenegrin interests, Djukanovic characterised as "inertia on behalf of the former political system in Serbia". Commenting on the recent statement made by the Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic, in which he has stated that Serbia had no more time to wait on Montenegro, Djukanovic stated Montenegro itself was in "quite a hurry to find its own spot under the sun of the united Europe". He added that Montenegro was not feuding with part of the international community, which up until recently offered only words of support and encouragement, because his country is still receiving aid from both the United States and the European Union. (hina) js