14/06/2006 (Agence Europe) - Only a day after the General Affairs Council declaration in which Member States expressed their common desire to develop relations with Montenegro, an “independent and sovereign State” (EUROPE, yesterday p.6), Luxembourg formally recognised the new Balkan republic. In a letter dated 13 June, sent by the Luxembourg prime minister Jean-Claude Juncker and his foreign affairs minister, Jean Asselborn, to the prime minister of Montenegro, Milo Djukanovic, they stated, “In compliance with the declaration of the Council of the European Union, we are delighted to inform you that the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is as of today recognising the Republic of Montenegro as a sovereign and independent State”. Luxembourg is ready to develop “fruitful relations” with the new country…towards joining the European family of nations”.