MONTENEGRO’S DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
MONTENEGRO’S DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

Summary/Abstract: Montenegro, as an independent state, ceased to exist after the First World War, when it unified with Serbia. This is the one that dominated afterwards the Serbian-Croatian-Slovenian kingdom until the beginning of the Second World War; as for the communist Yugoslavia, Montenegro had equal rights with the others and during the entire period there were no major issues with Serbia. At the end of the second millennium, the relationships between Montenegro and Serbia reached the lowest point ever since the two republics have been coexisting within a common state. A conflict within the Montenegrin society has been lit up by the leading high society of Serbia in October 2000, so the relationships between Serbia and Montenegro became more complicated and aggravated. Throughout the most critical period of the war in Kosovo and during the NATO’s bombarding campaign in 1999, Montenegro declared its neutrality, as at that time, the relationships between the Montenegrin government and the Yugoslavian national army were under a great pressure. Slobodan Milosevic aggravated even more the relations between Serbia and Montenegro by changing the Yugoslavian constitution in July 2000, for the Montenegrin government was not previously consulted or at least informed regarding the amendments which substantially transgressed its position within the Federation. The state unification between the two countries was accomplished under the pressure of the institutions from Bruxelles in 2002. That is why Montenegro had to postpone its struggle for independence for three years, period which expired in 2005. Thus, the coalition decided to get on with the referendum, which was proposed to take place on the 21st of March 2006; then, the population of Montenegro decided in a percentage of 55,4 of the total votes the separation from Serbia. Consequently, Montenegro declared its independence on the 3rd of June 2006. Two days later, the National Assembly from Serbia declared Serbia the lawful successor of Serbia and Montenegro.

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