Future of Serbia and Montenegro should be decided by consensus, OSCE Chairman says

PODGORICA, 6 April 2005 - The future of the state union of Serbia and Montenegro should be decided on the basis of consensus and in a way which ensures stability in south-eastern Europe, the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel, said.

During a visit to Podgorica on Tuesday, the Chairman-in-Office met the President of Montenegro Filip Vujanovic, Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic, President of Parliament Ranko Krivokapic and Foreign Minister Miodrag Vlahovic, as well as the President of Serbia and Montenegro, Svetozar Marovic, opposition Socialist Party leader Predrag Bulatovic and NGO representatives.

"With regard to the future of the state union Serbia and Montenegro, I would like to underscore the importance of adopting the most important decisions by consensus," Minister Rupel said. "We will support any decision between Serbia and Montenegro that is the result of agreement and democratic dialogue."

Stability in south-eastern Europe is a high priority for the Slovenian OSCE Chairmanship. The OSCE would continue to assist Serbia and Montenegro, and other countries in the region, in carrying out reforms. It was assisting Montenegro in implementing reforms and providing advice on legislation on human rights, the police, minority rights and the media.

During the discussions, the issue of the referendum on the future of the state union was also touched upon.

In his talks with Socialist Party leader Predrag Bulatovic, Minister Rupel stressed the importance of political dialogue and called for the full engagement of opposition parties in the political process.