Montenegrin independence referendum, 2006

The Montenegrin independence referendum was a referendum

Referendum

A referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. This may result in the adoption of a new constitution, a constitutional amendment, a law, the recall of an elected official or simply a specific government policy. It is a form of...

on the independence of the Republic of Montenegro
Montenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...

from the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro
Serbia and Montenegro
Serbia and Montenegro was a country in southeastern Europe, formed from two former republics of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia : Serbia and Montenegro. Following the breakup of Yugoslavia, it was established in 1992 as a federation called the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia...

that was held on 21 May 2006.

The total turnout of the referendum was 86.5%. 55.5 percent voted in favor and 44.5 were against breaking the state union with Serbia

Serbia

Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...

.
Fifty-five percent of affirmative votes were needed to dissolve the state union of Serbia and Montenegro

Serbia and Montenegro

Serbia and Montenegro was a country in southeastern Europe, formed from two former republics of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia : Serbia and Montenegro. Following the breakup of Yugoslavia, it was established in 1992 as a federation called the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia...

, an option favored by the coalition government

Coalition government

A coalition government is a cabinet of a parliamentary government in which several political parties cooperate. The usual reason given for this arrangement is that no party on its own can achieve a majority in the parliament...

(DPS

Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro

The Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro is the ruling social-democratic political party in Montenegro....

and SDP

Social Democratic Party of Montenegro

The Social Democratic Party of Montenegro is a political party in Montenegro....

).

By 23 May, preliminary referendum results were recognized by all five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council

United Nations Security Council

The United Nations Security Council is one of the principal organs of the United Nations and is charged with the maintenance of international peace and security. Its powers, outlined in the United Nations Charter, include the establishment of peacekeeping operations, the establishment of...

, indicating widespread international recognition of Montenegro once independence would be formally declared.

Montenegro's referendum commission on Wednesday 31 May, officially confirmed the results of the independence referendum, verifying that 55.5% of the population of Montenegrin voters had voted in favor of independence. Because voters met the controversial threshold requirement of 55% approval set by the EU

European Union

The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...

, the referendum was incorporated into a declaration of independence during a special parliamentary session on 31 May. The Assembly of the Republic of Montenegro

Parliament of Montenegro

The Parliament of Montenegro is the unicameral legislature of Montenegro. The Parliament currently has 81 members, each elected for a four-year term. The current Speaker of the Parliament is Ranko Krivokapić, while the deputy speakers are Željko Šturanović and Rifat Rastoder...

made a formal Declaration of Independence on Saturday 3 June.

In response to the announcement, the government of Serbia

Serbia

declared itself the legal and political successor of Serbia and Montenegro

Serbia and Montenegro

, and that the government and parliament of Serbia itself will soon adopt a new constitution. The European Union, the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

, the People's Republic of China and Russia all expressed their intentions to respect the referendum results.

Constitutional background

The process of secession was regulated by the Constitutional Charter of Serbia and Montenegro

Constitutional Charter of Serbia and Montenegro

The Constitutional Charter of the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro came into force on 4 February 2003, and united Serbia and Montenegro under one government, the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro, replacing the earlier Federal Republic of Yugoslavia....

adopted on 4 February 2003 by both Councils of the Federal Assembly of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, in accordance to the 2002 Belgrade Agreement between the governments of the two constitutive republics of then's Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Montenegro and Serbia. Article 60 of the constitution required that a minimum of three years pass after its ratification before one of the member states could declare independence. The same article specified the referendum as necessary for this move. However, this constitution allowed member states to define their own referendum laws.

It is also specified that the member state which secedes forfeits any rights to political and legal continuity

Succession of states

Succession of states is a theory and practice in international relations regarding the recognition and acceptance of a newly created sovereign state by other states, based on a perceived historical relationship the new state has with a prior state...

of the federation. This means that the seceding state (in this case the Republic of Montenegro) had to apply for membership to all major international institutions, such as the United Nations

United Nations

The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...

and be recognized by the international community, and that the Republic of Serbia became the full successor to the state union. No state objected to recognizing a newly formed state prior to the referendum.

Before the referendum

According to the Montenegrin Constitution

Constitution of Montenegro

The current Constitution of Montenegro was ratified and adopted by the Constitutional Parliament of Montenegro on 19 October 2007 on an extraordinary session by achieving the required two-thirds supermajority of votes. The Constitution was officially proclaimed as the Constitution of Montenegro on...

, state status cannot be changed without a referendum and the President of the state proposes a referendum to the Parliament. The referendum bill was introduced by the president of Montenegro, Filip Vujanović

Filip Vujanovic

Filip Vujanović is a Montenegrin politician who, since 2003, has served as the President of Montenegro. He is the first President of Montenegro since it split ties with Serbia and became an independent nation in June 2006...

, and it was unanimously passed by the Montenegrin Parliament on 2 March 2006.

After the referendum

The Referendum Bill obliges the Parliament, which introduced the referendum, to respect its outcome. It had to declare the official results within 15 days following the voting day, and act upon them within 60 days.

Changes to the Montenegrin Constitution, which involved changes of the state status, required dissolving the Parliament when the bill is passed, and convocation of the new one within 90 days. The new Parliament had to adopt, with a two-third majority, such changes to the Constitution, or draft a new Constitution..

The newly independent country of Serbia, which is the successor state to the state union of Serbia and Montenegro, while favouring a loose federation, has stated publicly that it would respect the outcome of the referendum, and not interfere with Montenegrin sovereignty.

Referendum rules controversies

There has been considerable controversy over suffrage

Suffrage

Suffrage, political franchise, or simply the franchise, distinct from mere voting rights, is the civil right to vote gained through the democratic process...

and needed result threshold for independence. Montenegrin government, which supported the independence, initially advocated a simple majority, but the opposition insisted on a certain threshold below which the referendum

Referendum

, if a "yes" option won, would have been moot.

Milo Đukanović, Prime Minister

Prime minister

A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...

of Montenegro, promised that he would declare the independence if the votes passed 50%, regardless of whether the census was passed or not. On the other hand, he also announced that if less than 50% voted for the independence option, he would resign from all political positions. The original pursuit of Milo Đukanović and the DPS-SDP was that 40% be a sufficient majority to declare independence, but this caused severe international outrage before the Independentists proposed 50%.

Another controversial issue was the referendum law, which relied on the constitution of Serbia and Montenegro, which, again, stated that Montenegrins living within Serbia that are voters in Serbia would not be allowed to vote in the referendum because that would give them two votes in the union and make them superior to other citizens.

Referendum question

Желите ли да Република Црна Гора буде независна држава са пуним међународно-правним субјективитетом?

Želite li da Republika Crna Gora bude nezavisna država sa punim međunarodno-pravnim subjektivitetom?

Do you want the Republic of Montenegro to be an independent state with a full international and legal personality? (as translated by OSCE)

Irregularities during the campaign

On 24 March 2006, a nine-minute video clip was aired that shows two local DPS

Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro

The Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro is the ruling social-democratic political party in Montenegro....

activists from Zeta region, along with a former member of secret police, attempting to bribe a citizen, Mašan Bušković, into casting a pro-independence vote at the upcoming referendum. In the video clip they're seen and heard persuading Bušković to vote for the independence, and they promise to pay off his electric bill of €1,500 in return.

When the video became public, two DPS activists claimed they were victims of manipulation and that the member of the secret police talked them into doing so. Mašan Bušković, the target of the alleged attempted bribe, on the other hand said the video is authentic and that it portrays events exactly as they occurred.

Opinion polling

Polling throughout the campaign was sporadic, with most polls showing pro-independence forces leading but not surpassing the 55% threshold. Only in the later weeks did polls begin to indicate the threshold would be passed, albeit barely.

Independence

Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro
Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro
The Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro is the ruling social-democratic political party in Montenegro....
Social Democratic Party of Montenegro
Social Democratic Party of Montenegro
The Social Democratic Party of Montenegro is a political party in Montenegro....
Civic Party of Montenegro
Civic Party of Montenegro
The Civic Party of Montenegro is a political party in Montenegro.On last legislative elections in Montenegro, the party did not manage to win a seat in Montenegrin Parliament...
Liberal Party of Montenegro
Liberal Party of Montenegro
The Liberal Party of Montenegro is a centre-left liberal political party in Montenegro. The party advocated liberalism and the bringing down of Milo Đukanović's rule, seeing it as authoritarian and undemocratic...
People's Concord of Montenegro
People's Concord of Montenegro
People's Concord of Montenegro or National Unity of Montenegro is a de facto inactive political party in Montenegro...
Democratic Union of Albanians
Democratic Union of Albanians
The Democratic Union of Albanians is an Albanian minority political party in Montenegro....
Bosniak Party
Bosniak Party of Montenegro
The Bosniak Party is a Bosniak minority political party in Montenegro....
Croatian Civic Initiative
Croatian Civic Initiative
The Croatian Civic Initiative is a Croat minority political party in Montenegro. The party was formed in 2002. It first participated in elections in the Tivat municipality that year, and is still based in the town...

A controversy emerged in the Independentist Bloc, as non-governmental organizations had officially joined and campaigned as its members, which was illegal

Law

Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...

, thus breaking the Law:

Movement for Independent European Montenegro
Civic Forum Nikšić
Democratic Community of Muslims Bosniacs in Montenegro.

The Sovereignist Camp concentrated on history and national minority rights. Montenegro was recognized an independent country on the 1878 Congress of Berlin

Congress of Berlin

The Congress of Berlin was a meeting of the European Great Powers' and the Ottoman Empire's leading statesmen in Berlin in 1878. In the wake of the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–78, the meeting's aim was to reorganize the countries of the Balkans...

. Its independence was extinguished in 1918 when its assembly declared union with Serbia

Serbia

. The minor ethnic groups are promised full rights in an independent Montenegro, with their languages being included into the new Constitution.

The camp's leader was Montenegro's controversial national leader Milo Đukanović.

Union

Socialist People's Party of Montenegro
Socialist People's Party of Montenegro
The Socialist People's Party of Montenegro is a socialist opposition political party in Montenegro. It has 16 MPs in the Parliament of Montenegro, which it won on the 2009 parliamentary election...
People's Party
Democratic Serbian Party
Serbian People's Party

The Unionists' Logo was Montenegro is Not for Sale! and For Love - Love Connects, Heart says NO!.

The Unionist Camp or "Bloc for Love", Together for Change

Together for Change

Together for Change was a political alliance in Montenegro that existed from 2001 to 2006, originally known as Together for Yugoslavia . It based itself upon the necessity for a united Yugoslav state with Serbia. Predrag Bulatović was its wingleader...

political alliance's campaign relied mostly on assertion and support of the European Union

European Union

, pointing out essential present as well as historical links with Serbia

Serbia

. They criticized that the ruling coalition is trying to turn Montenegro into a private state, a crime haven. Its campaign concentrated on pointing out "love" for union with Serbia. 73% of Montenegrin citizens has close cousins in Serbia and 78% of Montenegrin citizens has close friends in Serbia. According to TNS Medium GALLUP's research, 56.9% of the Montenegrin population believed if union with Serbia is broken health care would fall apart. 56.8% believed they wouldn't be able to go to schools in Serbia anymore and 65.3% thought it won't be able to find a job in Serbia as it intends to.

They used European Union

European Union

flags, Slavic

Slavic peoples

The Slavic people are an Indo-European panethnicity living in Eastern Europe, Southeast Europe, North Asia and Central Asia. The term Slavic represents a broad ethno-linguistic group of people, who speak languages belonging to the Slavic language family and share, to varying degrees, certain...

tricolors (which were also the official flag of the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro) and Serb Orthodox

Serbian Orthodox Church

The Serbian Orthodox Church is one of the autocephalous Orthodox Christian churches, ranking sixth in order of seniority after Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem, and Russia...

tricolors.

The key camp's leader was opposition leader Predrag Bulatović

Predrag Bulatovic

Predrag Bulatović is a Montenegrin politician. He was the president of the Socialist People's Party of Montenegro and unofficial leader of the Bloc Together for Changes and the entire "half of the Montenegrin world in favor of Serbia"...

Neutral

The Movement for Changes

Movement for Changes

Movement for Changes is a political party in Montenegro which has a proclaimed goal to integrate their country into the European Union and to support political and economic reforms to bring it into line with European norms...

, although de facto supporting independence, decided not to join the pro-independence coalition, on the arguments that the independentists are largely made of DPS criminals, and that the bloc is an "Unholy Alliance" gathered around a controversial Prime Minister Milo Đukanović, seen by these party officials as an obstacle to the complete democracy in Montenegro. The PzP was in reality closely cooperating and in general supporter of the Unionist Bloc.

A similar thing was from the ethnic Albanian Democratic League in Montenegro, which called the Albanians

Albanians

Albanians are a nation and ethnic group native to Albania and neighbouring countries. They speak the Albanian language. More than half of all Albanians live in Albania and Kosovo...

to boycott the referendum.
Most Albanians voted for indepedence.

Results

According to the first estimates at 21:00 (CET), when the voting stations closed, 86.5% of eligible voters – or 419,240 voters (404,840 in and 14,400 outside voting places) out of 484,718 eligible (in 1,124 voting areas) – voted, local NGO organisations monitoring the referendum said. 3,577 (0.85% or 0.74% of the electorate) votes were found invalid, so declared 415,663 (99.15%) were published as the final valid turnout (85.75%). 404,840 (96.56% or 83.5% of the electorate) citizens of Montenegro voted at their places, while 14,400 (3.43% or 2.97% of the electorate) voted abroad Serbia and Montenegro, most of whom supported independence.
Two organisations that were conducting a Quick Count

Quick count

Quick Count is a method for verification of election results by projecting them from a sample of the polling stations. Different than the exit poll, voters are not asked who they voted for, projection of results is based on official results of the polling station. Parallel vote tabulation is...

, Montenegrin CDT and Serbian CeSID, had different projections of the referendum results.

CeSID's initial projections were giving YES option significant advantage, but as the evening progressed, they were correcting their projection and lowering advantage of the YES option. This caused serious confusion among general public and sparked journalists to challenge CeSID projections.
After CeSID's announcement, thousands of people began to celebrate in the streets of every major city. However, after the CDT announcement, the public began to realize how close the result was.

CDT stated that the results were too close to call. This was later confirmed with the official results, since only about 2,000 votes were over the required threshold (the votes of some 2 or 3 polling stations). They urged the public to remain calm and give time to the referendum commission to finish their job.

Montenegrin prime minister Milo Đukanović first delayed his appearance in public, after learning how close the result was. He finally appeared on Montenegrin television

RTCG

Radio Television of Montenegro is the public broadcasting organization of Montenegro...

at about 01:40 CEST and said that after 99.85% of the votes had been counted, the percentage of votes for independence was 55.5%, and the remaining votes (6,236) could not change the outcome of the referendum.

On the other side, de facto leader of the unionist bloc Predrag Bulatović

Predrag Bulatovic

said at a press conference around 00:15 CEST that "his sources" informed him that 54% had voted "yes", a figure below the 55% threshold. Predrag Bulatović had announced earlier that he would resign as opposition leader if the referendum was won by those favouring independence.

František Lipka

František Lipka

František Lipka is a Slovak diplomat, poet and translator, who contributed to the process of the creation of independent Montenegro.-Life:...

, the referendum commission president or Chairman of the Electoral Commission announced on Monday the 22 May 2006 that the preliminary results were 55.4% in favor of independence. Prime Minister of the Republic of Montenegro Milo Đukanović held a press conference later that day. The press conference took place at 14:30, at the Congress Hall of the Government of the Republic of Montenegro.

Due to the fact that about 19,000 votes were still disputed, the Electoral Commission delayed the announcement of final results. The opposition demanded a full recount of the votes but this was rejected by the Commission and European observers, who stated that they were satisfied and they were sure that the vote had been free and fair. On 23 May 2006, the Electoral Commission released the final results which stated that 230,661 (55.02% of those who voted, 55.49% of the valid votes; 47.59% of the electorate) Montenegrins had voted for independence, while 185.002 (44.13% of those who voted, 44.51% of the valid votes; 38.17% of the electorate) voted against. The turnout was 86.49% of registered voters (85.75% valid).

The distribution of votes was as follows: majority (around 60%-up to around 70%) were against independence in regions bordering Serbia

Serbia

and Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...

. The highest No vote was in Serb-majority Plužine

Plužine

Plužine is a town in northwesten Montenegro. It has a population of 1,494 .Plužine is the centre of the municipality and unofficial centre of Piva region, named after Piva River.-History:...

municipality with 75.70%. In the authentic Montenegrin regions (former Principality of Montenegro

Principality of Montenegro

The Principality of Montenegro was a former realm in Southeastern Europe. It existed from 13 March 1852 to 28 August 1910. It was then proclaimed a kingdom by Knjaz Nikola, who then became king....

), there was a light majority (around 50-60%) for independence, with the Cetinje

Cetinje

Cetinje , Цетиње / Cetinje , Italian: Cettigne, Greek: Κετίγνη, Ketígni) is a town and Old Royal Capital of Montenegro. It is also a historical and the secondary capital of Montenegro , with the official residence of the President of Montenegro...

municipality, traditional centre of old Montenegro, having a huge percentage in favour of independence (over 86.38%). At the coastal regions, Herceg Novi

Herceg Novi

Herceg Novi is a coastal town in Montenegro located at the entrance to the Bay of Kotor and at the foot of Mount Orjen. It is the administrative center of the Herceg Novi Municipality with around 33,000 inhabitants...

municipality, which has a Serb majority had voted 61.34% against independence, the middle southern region (Tivat

Tivat

Tivat is a coastal town in southwest Montenegro, located in the Bay of Kotor...

, Kotor

Kotor

Kotor is a coastal city in Montenegro. It is located in a secluded part of the Gulf of Kotor. The city has a population of 13,510 and is the administrative center of the municipality....

, Budva

Budva

Budva is a coastal town in Montenegro. It has around 15,000 inhabitants, and it is the centre of municipality...

and Bar

Bar, Montenegro

Bar is a coastal town in Montenegro. It has a population of 17,727...

) being in favour of independence, and the south, Ulcinj

Ulcinj

Ulcinj is a coastal resort town and municipality in Montenegro. The town of Ulcinj has a population of 10,828 of which the majority are Albanians...

municipality, an ethnic Albanian

Albanians

Albanians are a nation and ethnic group native to Albania and neighbouring countries. They speak the Albanian language. More than half of all Albanians live in Albania and Kosovo...

centre, voted strongly in favour of independence (88.50%). The regions bordering Albania

Albania

Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...

and Kosovo

Kosovo

Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...

that have mostly Bosniak, Muslim and Albanian population, were heavily in favour of independence (78.92% in Plav

Plav

Plav Plav Plav (Montenegrin, (Albanian: Plav) is a town in north-eastern Montenegro. It has a population of 3,615 (2003 census).Plav is the centre of the municipality (population of 13,805),-Geography:...

, 91.33% in Rožaje

Rožaje

Rožaje , is a town in northeastern Montenegro. It has a population of 9,121 Rožaje is the centre of the municipality, which has a population of 22,693. The municipality is located in the geographical region of Sandžak.-History:The history of Rožaje goes back to 1571 and 1585 when it was first...

). Municipalities in Montenegro that voted for the Union were Andrijevica

Andrijevica

Andrijevica is a town in north-eastern Montenegro. It has a population of 1,073 . Its territory is outspread on 340 km2 and it is surrounded by massives of mountains Komovi, Bjelasica and Prokletije....

, Berane

Berane

Berane , formerly Ivangrad, is a town in north-eastern Montenegro. It has a population of 11,776 .Berane is the centre of municipality and one of the centres of Polimlje area, named after the Lim River, on which Berane is situated.-History:During the medieval period the Montenegrin land of Berane...

, Kolašin

Kolašin

Kolašin , is a town in northern Montenegro. It has a population of 2,989 .Kolašin is the centre of the municipality and unofficial centre of Morača region, named after Morača River....

, Mojkovac

Mojkovac

Mojkovac is a town in northern Montenegro. It has a population of 4,120 . Mojkovac is also the centre of the municipality, which has a population of 10,066.-Features:...

, Plužine

Plužine

Plužine is a town in northwesten Montenegro. It has a population of 1,494 .Plužine is the centre of the municipality and unofficial centre of Piva region, named after Piva River.-History:...

, Pljevlja

Pljevlja

Pljevlja is a town and municipality located in the northern part of Montenegro. The city lies at an altitude of...

, Herceg-Novi

Herceg Novi

, Šavnik

Šavnik

Šavnik is a small town in northern Montenegro. It has a population of 570 .Šavnik is the centre of the municipality and unofficial centre of Drobnjaci region, home of the Drobnjaci tribe....

, and Žabljak

Žabljak

Žabljak is a small town in northern Montenegro. It has a population of 1,937.Žabljak is the seat of the municipality...

. The municipalities that voted for independence were Bar

Bar, Montenegro

Bar is a coastal town in Montenegro. It has a population of 17,727...

, Bijelo Polje

Bijelo Polje

Bijelo Polje is a town in northern Montenegro. It has a population of 15,883 .Bijelo Polje is the center of municipality . It is unofficial center of north-eastern region of Montenegro...

, Budva

Budva

Budva is a coastal town in Montenegro. It has around 15,000 inhabitants, and it is the centre of municipality...

, Cetinje

Cetinje

, Danilovgrad

Danilovgrad

Danilovgrad is a town in central Montenegro. It has a population of 5,208 . It is situated in the Danilovgrad Municipality which lies along the main route between Montenegro's two largest cities, Podgorica and Nikšić.The town of Danilovgrad is located in the fertile valley of the Zeta River,...

, Kotor

Kotor

Kotor is a coastal city in Montenegro. It is located in a secluded part of the Gulf of Kotor. The city has a population of 13,510 and is the administrative center of the municipality....

, Nikšić

Nikšić

Nikšić is a city in Montenegro . In 2003 the city had a total population about 75,000.Nikšić is located in Nikšić plain, at the foot of Mount Trebjesa. It is the center of the municipality , which is the largest in Montenegro by area...

, Plav

Plav

, Podgorica

Podgorica

Podgorica , is the capital and largest city of Montenegro.Podgorica's favourable position at the confluence of the Ribnica and Morača rivers and the meeting point of the fertile Zeta Plain and Bjelopavlići Valley has encouraged settlement...

, Rožaje

Rožaje

, Tivat

Tivat

Tivat is a coastal town in southwest Montenegro, located in the Bay of Kotor...

, and Ulcinj

Ulcinj

Ulcinj is a coastal resort town and municipality in Montenegro. The town of Ulcinj has a population of 10,828 of which the majority are Albanians...

. The Independentist Bloc won thanks to the high votes of Albanians

Albanians

Albanians are a nation and ethnic group native to Albania and neighbouring countries. They speak the Albanian language. More than half of all Albanians live in Albania and Kosovo...

and to an extent Bosniaks

Bosniaks

The Bosniaks or Bosniacs are a South Slavic ethnic group, living mainly in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a smaller minority also present in other lands of the Balkan Peninsula especially in Serbia, Montenegro and Croatia...

. The highest pro-independence percentages were in Albanian-populated Ulcinj

Ulcinj

Ulcinj is a coastal resort town and municipality in Montenegro. The town of Ulcinj has a population of 10,828 of which the majority are Albanians...

and Bosniak-populated Rožaje

Rožaje

Municipality	Yes	No	Registered Voters	Voted
Andrijevica Andrijevica Andrijevica is a town in north-eastern Montenegro. It has a population of 1,073 . Its territory is outspread on 340 km2 and it is surrounded by massives of mountains Komovi, Bjelasica and Prokletije....	1,084 (27.6%)	2,824 (71.89%%)	4,369	3,928 (89.91%)
Bar Bar, Montenegro Bar is a coastal town in Montenegro. It has a population of 17,727...	16,640 (63.07%)	9,496 (35.99%)	32,255	26,382 (81.79%)
Berane Berane Berane , formerly Ivangrad, is a town in north-eastern Montenegro. It has a population of 11,776 .Berane is the centre of municipality and one of the centres of Polimlje area, named after the Lim River, on which Berane is situated.-History:During the medieval period the Montenegrin land of Berane...	11,268 (46.85%)	12,618 (52.46%)	28,342	24,051 (84.86%)
Bijelo Polje Bijelo Polje Bijelo Polje is a town in northern Montenegro. It has a population of 15,883 .Bijelo Polje is the center of municipality . It is unofficial center of north-eastern region of Montenegro...	19,405 (55.36%)	15,437 (44.04%)	40,110	35,051 (87.39%)
Budva Budva Budva is a coastal town in Montenegro. It has around 15,000 inhabitants, and it is the centre of municipality...	5,908 (52.75%)	5,180 (46.25%)	12,797	11,200 (87.52%)
Danilovgrad Danilovgrad Danilovgrad is a town in central Montenegro. It has a population of 5,208 . It is situated in the Danilovgrad Municipality which lies along the main route between Montenegro's two largest cities, Podgorica and Nikšić.The town of Danilovgrad is located in the fertile valley of the Zeta River,...	5,671 (53.15%)	4,887 (45.81%)	11,784	10,669 (90.54%)
Žabljak Žabljak Žabljak is a small town in northern Montenegro. It has a population of 1,937.Žabljak is the seat of the municipality...	1,188 (38.37%)	1,884 (60.85%)	3,407	3,096 (90.87%)
Kolašin Kolašin Kolašin , is a town in northern Montenegro. It has a population of 2,989 .Kolašin is the centre of the municipality and unofficial centre of Morača region, named after Morača River....	2,852 (41.82%)	3,903 (57.23%)	7,405	6,820 (92.1%)
Kotor Kotor Kotor is a coastal city in Montenegro. It is located in a secluded part of the Gulf of Kotor. The city has a population of 13,510 and is the administrative center of the municipality....	8,200 (55.04%)	6,523 (43.79%)	17,778	14,897 (83.79%)
Mojkovac Mojkovac Mojkovac is a town in northern Montenegro. It has a population of 4,120 . Mojkovac is also the centre of the municipality, which has a population of 10,066.-Features:...	3,016 (43.55%)	3,849 (55.57%)	7,645	6,926 (90.59%)
Nikšić Nikšić Nikšić is a city in Montenegro . In 2003 the city had a total population about 75,000.Nikšić is located in Nikšić plain, at the foot of Mount Trebjesa. It is the center of the municipality , which is the largest in Montenegro by area...	26,387 (52.01%)	23,837 (46.98%)	56,461	50,737 (89.86%)
Plav Plav Plav Plav Plav (Montenegrin, (Albanian: Plav) is a town in north-eastern Montenegro. It has a population of 3,615 (2003 census).Plav is the centre of the municipality (population of 13,805),-Geography:...	7,016 (78.47%)	1,874 (20.96%)	12,662	8,941 (70.61%)
Plužine Plužine Plužine is a town in northwesten Montenegro. It has a population of 1,494 .Plužine is the centre of the municipality and unofficial centre of Piva region, named after Piva River.-History:...	716 (24.2%)	2,230 (75.36%)	3,329	2,959 (88.88%)
Pljevlja Pljevlja Pljevlja is a town and municipality located in the northern part of Montenegro. The city lies at an altitude of...	9,115 (36.07%)	16,009 (63.36%)	27,882	25,268 (90.62%)
Podgorica Podgorica Podgorica , is the capital and largest city of Montenegro.Podgorica's favourable position at the confluence of the Ribnica and Morača rivers and the meeting point of the fertile Zeta Plain and Bjelopavlići Valley has encouraged settlement...	60,626 (53.22%)	52,345 (45.95%)	129,083	113,915 (88.25%)
Rožaje Rožaje Rožaje , is a town in northeastern Montenegro. It has a population of 9,121 Rožaje is the centre of the municipality, which has a population of 22,693. The municipality is located in the geographical region of Sandžak.-History:The history of Rožaje goes back to 1571 and 1585 when it was first...	13,835 (90.79%)	1,314 (8.62%)	19,646	15,239 (77.57%)
Tivat Tivat Tivat is a coastal town in southwest Montenegro, located in the Bay of Kotor...	4,916 (55.86%)	3,793 (43.1%)	10,776	8,800 (81.66%)
Ulcinj Ulcinj Ulcinj is a coastal resort town and municipality in Montenegro. The town of Ulcinj has a population of 10,828 of which the majority are Albanians...	12,256 (87.64%)	1,592 (11.38%)	17,117	13,985 (81.7%)
Herceg-Novi	7,741 (38.28%)	12,284 (60.75%)	24,487	20,220 (88.50%)
Cetinje Cetinje Cetinje , Цетиње / Cetinje , Italian: Cettigne, Greek: Κετίγνη, Ketígni) is a town and Old Royal Capital of Montenegro. It is also a historical and the secondary capital of Montenegro , with the official residence of the President of Montenegro...	11,536 (85.21%)	1,818 (13.43%)	15,077	13,538 (89.79%)
Šavnik Šavnik Šavnik is a small town in northern Montenegro. It has a population of 570 .Šavnik is the centre of the municipality and unofficial centre of Drobnjaci region, home of the Drobnjaci tribe....	906 (42.67%)	1,197 (56.38%)	2,306	2,123 (92.06%)
Prison	379 (76.57%)	108 (21.82%)	-	495

International reactions

On May 22, Croatia

Croatia

Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...

n President Stipe Mesić sent a message of congratulations to Montenegro on its vote for independence. Mesić was the first foreign head of state to react officially to the vote.

The EU

European Union

's foreign policy chief, Javier Solana

Javier Solana

Francisco Javier Solana de Madariaga, KOGF is a Spanish physicist and Socialist politician. After serving in the Spanish government under Felipe González and Secretary General of NATO , he was appointed the European Union's High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy, Secretary...

, congratulated Montenegro on a "successful referendum" and said the turnout of over 86 percent "confirms the legitimacy of the process." The European Union

European Union

would, he said, "fully respect" the final result. The EU's commissioner for enlargement, Olli Rehn

Olli Rehn

Olli Ilmari Rehn is a Finnish politician, currently serving as European Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs. He had previously served as Commissioner for Enlargement...

, said the European Union would put forward proposals for fresh talks with both Montenegro and Serbia. "All sides should respect the result and work together in order to build consensus on the basis of the acceptance of European values and standards. I now expect Belgrade and Podgorica to engage in direct talks on the practical implementation of the results".

In a statement of 23 May, the United States affirmed the OSCE/ODIHR assessment of the referendum, which stated that "the referendum was conducted in line with OSCE and Council of Europe

Council of Europe

The Council of Europe is an international organisation promoting co-operation between all countries of Europe in the areas of legal standards, human rights, democratic development, the rule of law and cultural co-operation...

commitments and other international standards for democratic electoral processes." "We urge Montenegro and Serbia to work together to resolve the practical issues necessary to implement the will of the people of Montenegro as expressed in the referendum."

The Russia

Russia

Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...

n Foreign Ministry issued a statement on 23 May stating "It is of fundamental importance for Montenegro and Serbia to enter into constructive, friendly and comprehensive dialogue with the aim of producing mutually acceptable political solutions regarding their future relations," the Foreign Ministry said.

The British

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

Europe Minister Geoff Hoon

Geoff Hoon

Geoffrey "Geoff" William Hoon is a British politician who served as the Member of Parliament for Ashfield from 1992 to 2010...

said he was pleased that the referendum had complied with international standards, pointing out that "the people of Montenegro have expressed a clear desire for an independent state."

A spokesperson for the Foreign ministry of the People's Republic of China

People's Republic of China

China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...

indicated "China respects the choice of people of Montenegro and the final result of the referendum" in a regularly scheduled news conference on 23 May.

The unanimous recognition of the referendum result by the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council

United Nations Security Council

indicated that widespread international recognition of Montenegro would likely be swift once independence was formally declared.

Serbian reactions

Serbian president Boris Tadić

Boris Tadic

Boris Tadić is the President of Serbia and leader of the Democratic Party. He was elected to a five-year term on 27 June 2004, and was sworn into office on 11 July. He was re-elected for a de facto second five-year term on 3 February 2008 and was sworn in on 15 February...

accepted the results of the referendum in favour of independence, while Serbian prime minister Vojislav Koštunica

Vojislav Koštunica

Vojislav Koštunica is a Serbian politician, statesman and the president of the Democratic Party of Serbia. He was the last President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, succeeding Slobodan Milošević and serving from 2000 to 2003...

, a firm opponent of Montenegrin independence, resolved to wait until the end of the week, so that the pro-Serb Montenegrin opposition would have time to challenge the final verdict.

The prime minister of Kosovo

Kosovo

Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...

, Agim Çeku

Agim Çeku

Agim Çeku is the current Minister of Security Forces for the Republic of Kosovo. He is also the former Prime Minister of Kosovo and a chief of the Kosovo Liberation Army . He was born in the village of Ćuška near Peć, in the Yugoslav province of Kosovo .Çeku is an ethnic Albanian...

, announced that Kosovo would follow Montenegro in the quest for independence, saying "This is the last act of the historic liquidation of Yugoslavia /.../ this year Kosovo will follow in Montenegro's footsteps." Kosovo declared its own independence on 17 February 2008, but is still seen by Serbs as the historical and spiritual heart of Serbia.

Ethnic Serb groups in neighbouring Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnia and Herzegovina

planned to demand a referendum on the independence of the Republika Srpska

Republika Srpska

Republika Srpska is one of two main political entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the other being the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina...

, according to the Croatian daily Večernji list
Vecernji list
Večernji list is a Croatian daily newspaper published in Zagreb.The newspaper was started in the 1950s and it is today one of two largest daily newspapers in Croatia...

, citing Branislav Dukić, leader of Spona, a regional Serb organisation. Since such a move could start another war in Bosnia it provoked widespread condemnation from the US, European Union

European Union

, and other nations. Milorad Dodik

Milorad Dodik

Milorad Dodik , is the President of Republika Srpska, and the president of the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats political party. He graduated from the Belgrade University of Political Sciences .-Political career:...

, the prime minister of Republika Srpska

Republika Srpska

Republika Srpska is one of two main political entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the other being the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina...

, subsequently withdrew his calls for a referendum, citing international opposition and the fact that such a referendum would violate the Dayton peace agreement.

External links

Unionist Bloc video: Vote for Love!
Unionist Bloc theme: Love connects
BBC: Page on the subject
BBC: Post-election coverage
Referendum Law (PDF)
The Njegoskij Fund Public Project >> 21 May 2006 Referendum on Independence

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