Croatia recognizes Montenegro

UNCLAS ZAGREB 000721 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV HR REGIONAL ISSUES SUBJECT: Croatia recognizes Montenegro ¶1. The Government of Croatia (GOC) convened an extraordinary session on June 12 to recognize Montenegro as an independent and sovereign state. The decision was preceded by a meeting between President Mesic and Prime Minister Sanader where the pair agreed that the GOC should go ahead and recognize the neighboring country. While recognizing Montenegro, Prime Minister Sanader asked its government to take care of the Croatian minority there, noting also that "we are aware of the fact that Montenegro was part of the aggression on Croatia, but we are glad to hear voices coming out of Montenegro expressing regret." ¶2. In its decision, the GOC proposes establishment of diplomatic relations, voices readiness to develop good neighborly relations and expresses its conviction that the future relations will be based on the Euro-Atlantic values and standards. The GOC also reminds Montenegro of its obligation to cooperate with The Hague-based ICTY, and invokes the need for dialogue toward ending the provisional regime on the border (Prevlaka). ¶3. In a separate statement, the GOC acknowledged that the Republic of Serbia as successor to the international legal sovereignty of the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro. The GOC also stated its intention to continue developing good neighborly relations with Serbia, hoping that the process of dissociation of Serbia-Montenegro would be conducted in a constructive way, taking into account the succession process of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. FRANK