Serbia declares separate statehood
BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) -- Serbia's parliament on Monday proclaimed the Balkan republic a sovereign state, following tiny Montenegro's decision to split from a joint union and dissolve what was left of Yugoslavia.
The 126 lawmakers unanimously acknowledged that their state is the heir to the union of Serbia-Montenegro -- the last shred of what was once a six-member Yugoslav federation. Serbia's parliament has 250 deputies, but the opposition boycotted the vote, held during a special session.
"Serbia, as the legal heir to the state union, must formally take over, or inherit, what it has created," said parliament speaker Predrag Markovic.
The assembly instructed all state institutions to complete the process for Serbia's statehood within the next 45 days, including assuming the duties and responsibilities previously in the hands of the federal administration.
Some deputies praised Serbia re-establishing its statehood after 88 years in the Balkan union, but others mourned the loss of a joint state with Montenegro.
"We will restore Serbia's glory," said Miloljub Albijanic, from the ruling G17 Plus party. "Long live independent Serbia."
But nationalist leader Tomislav Nikolic felt less proud.
"This is a sad day in the history of Serbia," he said. "Something is happening in Serbia against Serbia's will."
Montenegro's declaration of independence late Saturday, after it decided to split from Serbia in a May 21 referendum, set in motion the process of dividing the joint state's armed forces, diplomatic missions, common assets and responsibilities.
On Sunday, the last president of Serbia-Montenegro, Svetozar Marovic, stepped down, as his government dissolved itself and the federal parliament announced it would not meet again.
The Montenegrin head of the Serbia-Montenegro army was replaced by a top Serbian officer, and other changes were to follow.
The Belgrade-based Defense Ministry said it would formally bring down the Serbia-Montenegro flag at military headquarters within days, and replace it with the Serbian flag. The old flag will be placed in a museum, the ministry said.
Montenegro's president, Filip Vujanovic, announced the creation of the Montenegrin army within days.
Serbia and Montenegro were the only two former Yugoslav republics that stayed together after the violent disintegration of the Balkan federation in the 1990s.
Although the two nations share a common language and culture, as well as close historic ties, their relations cooled over recent years, with Montenegro edging toward independence.
In May, Montenegro's voters chose by a slim margin to split from the 88-year-old union with Serbia.
In the early 1990s, Slovenia, Croatia and Bosnia also split from the Serb-led federation, triggering a series of bloody wars. Serbia's southern, ethnic Albanian-dominated province of Kosovo also hopes to gain independence at ongoing U.N.-brokered talks.
"Everybody has left us," 33-year-old Serb engineer Dusan Petrovic said Monday. "It's time we rid ourselves of all illusions."
Serbia and Montenegro still need to divide dozens of embassies and residences. Serbia, as the union's legal successor, inherits membership in the United Nations and other international organizations.
On Sunday, Montenegro said it has asked all of its Balkan neighbors, European Union states and permanent members of the U.N. Security Council to officially recognize it and establish diplomatic relations with its government.
CNN
The 126 lawmakers unanimously acknowledged that their state is the heir to the union of Serbia-Montenegro -- the last shred of what was once a six-member Yugoslav federation. Serbia's parliament has 250 deputies, but the opposition boycotted the vote, held during a special session.
"Serbia, as the legal heir to the state union, must formally take over, or inherit, what it has created," said parliament speaker Predrag Markovic.
The assembly instructed all state institutions to complete the process for Serbia's statehood within the next 45 days, including assuming the duties and responsibilities previously in the hands of the federal administration.
Some deputies praised Serbia re-establishing its statehood after 88 years in the Balkan union, but others mourned the loss of a joint state with Montenegro.
"We will restore Serbia's glory," said Miloljub Albijanic, from the ruling G17 Plus party. "Long live independent Serbia."
But nationalist leader Tomislav Nikolic felt less proud.
"This is a sad day in the history of Serbia," he said. "Something is happening in Serbia against Serbia's will."
Montenegro's declaration of independence late Saturday, after it decided to split from Serbia in a May 21 referendum, set in motion the process of dividing the joint state's armed forces, diplomatic missions, common assets and responsibilities.
On Sunday, the last president of Serbia-Montenegro, Svetozar Marovic, stepped down, as his government dissolved itself and the federal parliament announced it would not meet again.
The Montenegrin head of the Serbia-Montenegro army was replaced by a top Serbian officer, and other changes were to follow.
The Belgrade-based Defense Ministry said it would formally bring down the Serbia-Montenegro flag at military headquarters within days, and replace it with the Serbian flag. The old flag will be placed in a museum, the ministry said.
Montenegro's president, Filip Vujanovic, announced the creation of the Montenegrin army within days.
Serbia and Montenegro were the only two former Yugoslav republics that stayed together after the violent disintegration of the Balkan federation in the 1990s.
Although the two nations share a common language and culture, as well as close historic ties, their relations cooled over recent years, with Montenegro edging toward independence.
In May, Montenegro's voters chose by a slim margin to split from the 88-year-old union with Serbia.
In the early 1990s, Slovenia, Croatia and Bosnia also split from the Serb-led federation, triggering a series of bloody wars. Serbia's southern, ethnic Albanian-dominated province of Kosovo also hopes to gain independence at ongoing U.N.-brokered talks.
"Everybody has left us," 33-year-old Serb engineer Dusan Petrovic said Monday. "It's time we rid ourselves of all illusions."
Serbia and Montenegro still need to divide dozens of embassies and residences. Serbia, as the union's legal successor, inherits membership in the United Nations and other international organizations.
On Sunday, Montenegro said it has asked all of its Balkan neighbors, European Union states and permanent members of the U.N. Security Council to officially recognize it and establish diplomatic relations with its government.
CNN
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