DUBROVNIK, July 11 (Hina) - Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic said in Dubrovnik on Tuesday Montenegro was closer to independence today than it had been yesterday, and that the government would evaluate the right moment to hold a
referendum on Montenegro's constitutional status.
DUBROVNIK, July 11 (Hina) - Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic
said in Dubrovnik on Tuesday Montenegro was closer to independence
today than it had been yesterday, and that the government would
evaluate the right moment to hold a referendum on Montenegro's
constitutional status.#L#
"I believe such irresponsible conduct on the part of the
authorities in Belgrade brings us closer to using that possibility
(the referendum)," said Djukanovic commenting on amendments to the
federal constitution adopted by the parliament of the Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia. The amendments significantly reduced
Montenegro's influence on FRY's authorities. FRY consists of two
republics, Serbia and Montenegro.
Djukanovic spoke to reporters after joining a meeting in Dubrovnik
of Croatia's President Stipe Mesic, the Czech Republic's Vaclav
Havel, and Slovenia's Milan Kucan. Djukanovic said a referendum on
the declaration of Montenegro's independence was Montenegro's
constitutional right.
Czech President Havel said he was speaking as the head of a NATO
member-state, advocating that NATO demonstrate force to prevent
FRY President Slobodan Milosevic from making a military
intervention in Montenegro.
"The international community watched the developments in the
former Yugoslavia with surprise and shock, reacting too late. It
should not reoccur for the fifth time," Havel said, referring to all
the conflicts Milosevic had started thus far on the territory of the
former Yugoslav federation.
According to Slovenia's President Kucan, every nation has the right
to decide on its fate, as Montenegro has done. Nobody can be denied
this right, he asserted.
Croatian President Mesic said Croatia had exercised that right and
would not contest that of any other country.
"Before the war began, Milosevic tricked the world by saying he was
fighting for Yugoslavia, and the Serb public by saying that all
Serbs must live in one state. The result was war, genocide, and war
crimes, while all states have remained within their borders," the
Croatian President said.
(hina) ha jn