Montenegro to offer only one consulate

Montenegro believes that one consulate in addition to the embassy in Podgorica would be sufficient for Serbia, reports say.

Belgrade daily Večernje Novosti says that this came in reaction to Belgrade’s request to have three consulates in that country – in Herceg Novi, Nikšić and Bijelo Polje.

The newspaper has learned that the Montenegrin foreign ministry rejected this, and that Belgrade was officially notified about the decision.

This, however, does not mean that there is agreement on the issue, since Serbia has not given up on the idea, so it is likely that more negotiations will follow, says the daily.

The Montenegrin side, however, is unofficially saying that this is a definitive decision.

In Belgrade, the foreign ministry is reportedly considering opening Serbia’s diplomatic office in Herceg Novi, should they have to choose one of the three towns.

However, official Belgrade will try to reach a compromise, that would give Serbia two consulates in the neighboring country.