Posted on 02/23/2005 3:12:13 AM PST by Lukasz
PODGORICA, Serbia-Montenegro – Montenegro proposed a final split from Serbia on Tuesday, suggesting that the two former Yugoslav republics recognize each other as sovereign states.
If accepted by Belgrade, the deal would abolish what little has remained of the Serbia-Montenegro union, established in 2003 under European Union auspices as a successor state to the already truncated version of the former Yugoslavia.
Once part of the six-republic Yugoslav federation, Serbia and Montenegro stayed together when four others seceded in the early 1990s. Relations between the two deteriorated over the years.
Serbia's Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica has sought to retain the union with Montenegro, despite strong pro-separation sentiment in Serbia.
"The current union is dysfunctional, its institutions are slow and inefficient," said the document signed by Montenegro's President Filip Djukanovic and its prime minister Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic.
The document, sent to Serbia's leadership for consideration, said Montenegro's proposal "would resolve the current shortcomings and ensure lasting, stable and quality cooperation."
Serbia and Montenegro have broad autonomy under the EU-brokered deal, sharing only a limited central administration in charge of foreign and defense affairs.
Under the new proposal, which Montenegro said would need ratification by both parliaments, the two would forge a loose military alliance, jointly governed by a defense council with representatives from both states.
In an apparent concession to Belgrade, the Montenegrins suggested that Serbia inherit the current Serbia-Montenegro seats in international organizations, while Montenegro would seek membership as a new country.
Neither Serbia nor Montenegro was supposed to push for complete separation before 2006 under the EU deal. Djukanovic recently warned that Montenegro would hold an independence referendum in February 2006 unless Serbia agreed to dissolve the current union.
I'm not sure what the current state of affairs is in his country, but the last time I checked, the Montenegrins were pretty evenly divided on this issue.
That being said, I really don't think there's anything that Serbia can do-militarily or diplomatically-to stop them from seceding, either voluntarily or without Serbia's consent.
The idea of Yugoslavia was a ridiculous concept to begin with, one that was tinged with an inextricable ethnic chauvinism and delusional Utopianism, if you ask me.
Without the brutal, ironfisted rule of notorious Communist dictator, Josip Broz "Tito", I doubt that this experiment would have lasted as long as it did.
-good times, G.J.P.(Jr.)
Thast right that is next
Under Djukanovic rule Montenegro has become a haven for large scale tobbaco smuggling into EU, causing the hole in EU budget some $10B (yes, billion) deep and a major hub for Italian organized crime
Djukanovic has modelled himself upon Al Pacino's role in Scareface and his goons imitate Columbian Cocaineros.
Italy and Germany want to prosecute him but he is out of reach for now because of his office.
The only hope for Djukanovic and his clique to evade justice is to make Montenegro an independent fiefdom.
That's what this operetta is all about.
I could never figure how extensive his involvement with the Eastern European/Ukrainian mafia was, but Djukanovic did strike me as having a lot of gall, especially for someone who doesn't have the unwavering support of his people.
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