Montenegro announced today that it has recognized Kosovo as a sovereign and independence state, intending to build strong diplomatic ties with the newly born nation.

 

The recognition comes just one day after only a third of UN members backed Serbia's initiative to ask the International Court of Justice for a legally non-binding opinion on Kosovo's coordinated declaration of independence.

Montenegro has stressed that recognition is a matter of sovereign states and ICJ decision does not oblige countries to follow it, with other countries such as the UK saying that Serbia’s move is political rather than legal. Important to note, Montenegro voted for Serbia's initiative at the UN, while Macedonia decided to abstain.

Montenegro’s Foreign Minister Milan Rocen justified the recognition of independent Kosovo for being in the service of regional stability in the Balkans.

Macedonia is also expected to recognize Kosovo within a few hours tonight once the emergency parliamentary session in Skopje is over.

Macedonia, Montenegro and Kosovo were equal members of the Yugoslav state under Marshal Tito. Slovenia and Croatia, the other two former Yugoslav federal units, now independent states, recognized Kosovo earlier on March of 2008. All neighboring countries have good relations with Kosovo and Serbia.

The federal units decided to leave the federation when Serbia led by Milosevic began concentrating power on his hands beginning with abrogation of Kosovo’s constitutional status, destroying this way the delicate balance established by Tito.

Many other countries are expected to recognize Kosovo in the coming days.

Kosovo declared independence on February 2008, becoming the 7th independent republic resulting out of former Yugoslavia.