Montenegro lawmakers declare independence

PODGORICA, Montenegro -- Montenegro's parliament declared independence from Serbia for the tiny Balkan republic Saturday, forming Europe's newest country and dissolving the last vestiges of the former Yugoslavia.

The assembly adopted a declaration of independence, verifying the results of a May 21 referendum in which Montenegrins supported a split from Serbia by a slim margin. The document envisages Montenegro as a "multiethnic, multicultural and multireligious society ... based on the rule of law and market economy."

The authorities then raised a red-and-gold Montenegrin flag over the parliament building and played the ancient Montenegrin anthem -- "Oh, The Bright May Dawn" -- as fireworks exploded. But only a few hundred people celebrated in the capital's streets because of a downpour.

The declaration says Montenegro's strategic national goal is integration into the European Union and NATO, and the new country will immediately apply for admission into the United Nations and other international organizations. It also "expresses special interest and full readiness" to "build good and friendly relations with Serbia."

"Long live Montenegro. The citizens of Montenegro, once and for all, have brought back their country into the family of free nations and states," parliament speaker Ranko Krivokapic said after reading out the declaration.

"This is the moment when new horizons open for my country," said Goran Novakovic, 32, a painter. "This is the most important day in the entire century for this country."

Danilo Radovic, a student, said: "The dream of generations of Montenegrins has been fulfilled."

But Europe's newest nation was born with a faltering economy, including 30 percent unemployment. The average monthly salary is $440, and the economy relies on tourism on the country's 180-mile stretch of Adriatic Sea coast.

No Serbian officials were at the independence ceremonies. And conservative Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica refused to officially congratulate Montenegro's pro-independence leaders on the referendum results.

But a message issued by the office of pro-democracy Serbian President Boris Tadic wished the people of Montenegro "peace, stability and overall prosperity" on their way to European integration.

The proclamation formally ended the Serbia-Montenegro union, 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 1990s.

Serbia opposed previous declarations of independence by Slovenia, Croatia and Bosnia, triggering nearly a decade of wars.

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

Montenegro, with 620,000 people, was the only republic to stay with Serbia, but it gradually edged toward independence during the autocratic rule of former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic, who died earlier this year while on trial at the U.N. war crimes tribunal for his part in the bloody breakup of Yugoslavia.

Unionist parties opposed to the split with Serbia boycotted the parliament session.