Montenegro After Independence
July 6, 2006

On May 21, 2006, the Republic of Montenegro held a public referendum to decide if it should end its union with Serbia and become a sovereign and independent state. The vote passed by half a percent.

Two weeks later on June 3, in a special session of its parliament, the Republic of Montenegro officially declared its independence from Serbia. The Serbian Parliament formally recognized the new country and declared its own independence, according to BBC News.

Montenegro has been working to gain international recognition of its status as an independent state, and reached a significant milestone when it became the 192nd member of the United Nations on June 28.

“The people of Montenegro demonstrated that adherence to democratic values and the rule of law offer the most effective way to achieve political goals,” Secretary-General Kofi Annan said. "And they showed that even the most difficult and sensitive problems can be resolved peacefully. These are especially important messages given the violent past in the Balkan region.”

The country has now set its sights upon membership in the European Union. The EU’s Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said a “stability and association agreement” with Montenegro could be reached by the end of 2006, according to BBC News.

"We are conscious that international attention is now focused on us, and on our ability to adopt international standards," Montenegrin Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic said. "We are ready and capable of meeting such expectations."

Serbia and Montenegro had been working on reaching a stabilization and association agreement – considered the first step in joining the EU – but it was put on hold when the EU said Serbia did not fully co-operate in efforts to arrest Bosnian Serb fugitive Ratko Mladic.