See that rather large, crumbling hole in the lower right-hand side of the European Soft Power, there? That Euro vacuity would be, uh, the local folks.
See that much smaller, more central hole? That SWISS hole? I'm flying over there tomorrow.
SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE
TOP SERBIAN OFFICIALS ACCEPT MONTENEGRIN INDEPENDENCE VOTE RESULTS.
Serbian President Boris Tadic and Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica
both said on May 23 that they will accept the results of Montenegro's independence referendum as legitimate, international news agencies reported. According to official preliminary results, 55.5 percent supported independence in the May 21 vote, narrowly surpassing the 55 percent threshold agreed with the European Union (see "RFE/RL Newsline," May 23, 2006). "Serbia will fully respect the final outcome of the referendum," dpa quoted Kostunica as saying.
Kostunica, speaking after meeting with Miroslav Lajcak, the EU envoy to the referendum, added, however, that he will wait for the final official election results before elaborating on the position of the
Serbian government. "The referendum is important, the least doubt may not fall on it.... Every vote counts and it is important to verify
each vote," he said. The final results, which are widely expected to
be the same as the official preliminary results, are expected within
days. Tadic, who also said he accepted the preliminary results, said
he will be the first Serbian official to travel to Montenegro and
congratulate the winners in person, dpa reported, citing the Tanjug
news agency. BW
EU PRAISES VOTE, HOLDS OUT PROSPECT OF NEW MEMBERSHIP TALKS. EU envoy Lajcak said on May 23 that Brussels too will accept Montenegro's referendum results, and praised Podgorica for a "surprisingly" (((I'll say))) peaceful, civilized, and European vote, international news agencies reported.
"We are ready to recognize the democratically expressed
will of the people of Montenegro," Lajcak said after a meeting with
Serbia and Montenegro's Foreign Minister Vuk Draskovic, dpa reported.
Raising the prospect that Montenegro could move ahead of Serbia in
joining the EU, Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said on May 23
that Brussels will prepare separate mandates for negotiating a
Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) with Montenegro. The EU halted talks on an SAA with Serbia and Montenegro over Belgrade's failure to arrest war crimes fugitive Ratko Mladic (see "RFE/RL Newsline," May 2 and 3, 2006). (((Even after ten years on the lam, these guys still have the clout to crack countries.)))
MONTENEGRO PROMISES SMOOTH DIVORCE. Top Montenegrin officials on May 23 sought to reassure Serbia that the union's breakup will be implemented in a measured, orderly, and civilized manner, Reuters reported the same day. (((Which is more than one can say for local standards in highways, post offices and plumbing.)))
Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic said that
"continuation of cooperation with Serbia and defining our relations
on a new basis" is a high priority for Montenegro, adding that there
will be no "rush into some euphoric, unilateral moves." Foreign
Minister Miodrag Vlahovic said Montenegro hopes "to start talks with
Serbia at the first possible moment after the results are final,"
adding that negotiations "could last a few weeks or up to two to
three months." Serbia and Montenegro's President Svetozar Marovic, a Montenegrin who strongly backed independence, said he will be in
Belgrade on June 1 "to hold the last session of the Council of
Ministers and resign...from the post of the president of the state
union." BW
(((And, more astonishing yet:)))
BOTH SIDES NOTE NEW POSITIVE TONE IN KOSOVA STATUS TALKS. Serbian officials on May 23 hailed what they called a newly positive tone in the fifth round of Kosova final-status talks in Vienna, dpa reported the same day. Dusan Batakovic, an adviser to President Tadic who is a member of the Serbian delegation, said the talks on May 23 were "much more positive than" they had been "up till now." He noted "very encouraging statements from the Albanian side." '
The May 23 talks focused on protecting religious and cultural heritage. Serbia is pushing for special protection zones around about 40 religious sites, including Serbian Orthodox churches. Ylber Hysa, who led the ethnic Albanian delegation, said the talks were "successful in the sense that goodwill was shown by the Albanian side." Ethnic Albanians, he noted, are prepared to grant "a number of privileges" to the Serbian Orthodox Church, including a tax exemption. BW
(((This seems to be stark proof that when superpowers go aggressively nuts, regional powers pull up their socks and get all cordial.)))
