“Diplomatic relations with Kosovo after ICJ ruling”

Montenegrin Deputy PM Svetozar Marović says his country “most sincerely wants to have the best possible relations with Serbia”.

Podgorica will not establish diplomatic relations with Kosovo before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) rules on the legality of the unilateral Kosovo Albanian proclamation, he said.

Marović, who is also the vice-president of the ruling Democratic Party of Socialists, said that this was not an official stand of the Montenegrin government, but that he “sees no reason to rush things”.

When asked whether Montenegro would review its decision to recognize Kosovo if the ICJ rules that the proclamation was illegal, Marović said that Montenegro would consider every decision of the Court with respect.

Saying that “Serbia’s future is within the European Union” and “wishing Serbia success on its path to the EU”, Marović said that it was “not Montenegro that had made Kosovo independent but residents of Kosovo and great powers”.

Montenegro, according to him, “only accepted the realistic circumstances”, and did so “bearing in mind that any decision it makes it would not change the reality, but it could only damage its (Montenegrin) interests.”