European Union (EU) enlargement commissioner Olli Rehn on Tuesday urged Belgrade and Podgorica to engage in constructive talks on their ”velvet divorce” after Montenegro’s historic independence referendum on May 21.
Speaking at a meeting of the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe in Belgrade, Rehn said that both sides must adhere to standards agreed upon with the EU over the dissolution of their loose federation.
”The referendum in Montenegro was a free and fair vote and it took place in an orderly manner, therefore there are all the reasons to consider it legitimate,” said Rehn.
”While the final results will be confirmed, I trust that both Belgrade and Podgorica will engage in constructive negotiations on the practical conduct of the ‘velvet divorce’ without any unnecessary delays.”
The EU official said he held a ”substantive and frank meeting” with Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica on Monday, discussing Montenegro’s May 21 referendum that gave the republic independence, according to initial results.
”I encouraged him, as well as all the other leaders both in Belgrade and Podgorica, to respect rules which have been agreed by different parties and by the support of the European Union,” said Rehn.
”We are shortly going to present a new negotiating mandate for Montenegro and a modified negotiating mandate for Serbia as the successor state of Serbia and Montenegro.”
Earlier this month the European Union halted talks with Serbia-Montenegro on a so-called ”stabilisation and association agreement” after Serbia failed to hand over war crimes fugitive Ratko Mladic by an April 30 deadline.
Rehn told reporters that the door remained open for Serbia to restart its rapprochement talks with the EU once it cooperated fully with the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia.
”Serbia will need to achieve full cooperation with the ICTY that should lead to the arrest and transfer of Ratko Mladic in order to be able to proceed with negotiations on a stabilisation and association agreement,” he said.
”The ball is now in Serbia’s court and we are ready to proceed negotiations even on the very same day once full cooperation is reached.” – AFP
