Montenegro declares independence

Podgorica (Montenegro): Montenegro's Parliament has proclaimed independence for the tiny Balkan republic, forming a new European state and formally dissolving the last union of the former Yugoslavia.

As the declaration was read out in a broadcast assembly session on Saturday evening, a fireworks display muted by heavy rain went off over Montenegro's capital, and a red and gold Montenegrin flag was raised over the parliament building.

The ancient Montenegrin anthem Oh, The Bright May Dawn was played inside the assembly chamber.

Lawmakers had unanimously verified the May 21 referendum, in which a slight majority of Montenegrins voted for the split from Serbia.

The independence declaration envisages Montenegro as a "multiethnic, multicultural and multireligious society based on the rule of law and market economy."

Despite the pouring rain, a few hundred Montenegrins took to the streets to celebrate their new freedom, apart from Serbia for the first time since 1918.

The new country has 620,000 people.

"This is the moment when new horizons open for my country," said painter Goran Novakovic.

"This is the most important day in than the entire century for this country," he added.

"I am extremely happy," a student, Danilo Radovic said.

"The dream of generations of Montenegrins has been fulfilled," Radovic added.

After reading the declaration, which declared the tiny country's national goal as integration into the European Union and NATO, Speaker Ranko Krivokapic said Long live Montenegro!

"The citizens of Montenegro, once and for all, have brought back their country into the family of free nations and states," Krivokapic said.

The declaration also said Montenegro would immediately start procedures for admission to the United Nations and other international organisations.

It was careful, however, to acknowledge its former partner Serbia by stating Montenegro's "special interest and full readiness" to "build good and friendly relations with Serbia."

Not everyone was pleased with the new status, which was determined by the slimmest margin in the referendum just half a percentage point, or 2,090 votes, over the 55 percent threshold for validating secession under European Union guidelines.

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Serbia and Montenegro are linked culturally as well as historically, sharing the same Christian orthodox religion and language.

"I will not die because my option has lost," said a translator, Darinka Joksimovic adding "But, now that it has happened, I can only hope that things will get better and that we will build a better future."

No Serbian officials attended the independence ceremonies, after Serbian conservative Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica had refused to officially congratulate Montenegro's pro-independence leaders on the referendum results.

Serbian President Boris Tadic, however, issued a statement on Saturday wishing the people of Montenegro "peace, stability and overall prosperity" on their way to European integration.

"On that road, as always in our history, Serbia will be the closest friend," said a pro-democracy leader, Tadic.

"I am in favor of preserving family, historic, cultural, economic and political ties, because they present an unbreakable bond between our two countries."

The Serbia-Montenegro union had been the last shred of what was once Yugoslavia, following years of crisis in the Balkans that began when the federation of six republics disintegrated in violence in the 1990's.

No formal borders are expected to be formed soon between Serbia and Montenegro, which already have separate economies and political systems.

Serbia's defense minister said on Saturday that the only joint body, the military would accept Montenegro's independence, and all Serbian soldiers would withdraw from Montenegro next week.

With tiny Montenegro's independence, Serbia also becomes de-facto independent, and Serbian parliament planned to finalize the new status next week.

Montenegro's unionist parties, who were opposed to the split with Serbia, boycotted the parliament session.

Serbia, eight times larger than Montenegro, had opposed previous declarations of independence by Slovenia, Croatia and Bosnia, triggering nearly a decade of wars.

Montenegro had been an independent kingdom in the late 19 and early 20 centuries, but it abandoned its statehood to join a new Serb-led Balkan union in 1918.

Montenegro was the only republic to stay with Serbia, but it gradually has edged toward independence during the autocratic rule of former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic who died while on trial at the UN war crimes tribunal for his part in the bloody breakup of former Yugoslavia.