Brussels, 22/02/2002 (Agence Europe) - On his recent visit to Belgrade (where he spent three hours in total in two rounds of talks with President Kostunica on Friday) the High Representative for CFSP, Javier Solana, suggested to the President of Montenegro, Djukanovic (with whom he also held two separate meetings) "some ideas on how to resolve the constitutional problem" of the future relations between Serbia and Montenegro. Mr Solana left Belgrade more optimistic than when he arrived, with the feeling of having made progress but Mr Djukanovic has not yet reacted to this ideas, repeating that he wanted a two-state union with each country having a seat in the United Nations.
Javier Solana outlined his ideas in an article for the Montenegro newspaper Vijesti in which he called for a "Union of Serbia and Montenegro" which "would have few competencies, leaving sufficient room to the constituent republics to manage their own affairs. While the Union would have only one seat at the United Nations, it would allow for a considerable international role for Montenegro. There would be safeguards to ensure that Montenegro will never again be dominated by Serbia as in the days of Milosevic. That will be a guarantee that no Republic could be obliged to reverse the reforms already accomplished. Finally, there should be a provision allowing each Republic - after a few years - to review the arrangement and to decide on its future".
In the article Mr Solana notes that the EU "has not forgotten Montenegro's crucial role during the dark Milosevic years" and "when we offer our views on future status issue, this should not be misunderstood as meddling or interference, but as a genuine expression of concern from a true friend and a future European partner". "My impression is that Montenegrins need to take the new developments in Europe into account", aware that a seat at the United Nations or a network of embassies will not guarantee the prosperity of the country. "The very notion of sovereignty has profoundly changed in the new Europe. Member states have given up part of their sovereignty to enjoy the full benefits of integration. But new opportunities have emerged for ancient nations such as Scotland and Bavaria… They undoubtedly enjoy today a highly developed sense of identity, economy dynamism and substantial autonomy. Why should this not be an attractive prospect for Montenegro?"
Support for Javier Solana's efforts to get agreement on Yugoslavia's federal future
The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe (composed of 43 European countries) supports the efforts of the EU High Representative for CFSP, Javier Solana, to reach a political agreement on the future federal structure of Yugoslavia. It says it is convinced that the proposals put forward by Mr Solana "serve the interests of both Serbia and Montenegro and offer the best perspectives for their joint and speedy integration into the structures of democratic Europe, starting with the Council of Europe". The Committee of Ministers "recalls its support for a democratic Montenegro within a democratic Yugoslavia".