The Montenegrins authorities and opposition agreed on Tuesday
that a referendum about the Balkan republic's possible independence
would be held on May 21, one week after the EU proposed date.
The two sides also agreed to postpone the regular local
elections for autumn when regular parliamentary elections will be
held, the official Tanjug news agency reported from Podgorica.
According to the initial proposal presented by EU envoy Miroslav
Lajcak, the referendum and local elections in Montenegro should be
held on May 14.
The EU package contains a proposal that the decision on
Montenegro's state status should be made by 55 percent of valid
votes.
The major ruling Democratic Party of Socialists and all four
opposition parties have accepted the EU proposal on a referendum.
The smaller member of the ruling coalition, Social Democratic
Party, will take its position on the offer at a parliament session
on the referendum.
Montenegro is a republic in the loose union of
Serbia-Montenegro. The republic has been divided by
pro-independence ruling coalition and pro-Serbian opposition.
Montenegrin parliament President Ranko Krivokapic said on
Tuesday that the parliament would adopt the bill on referendum at
its session on Wednesday. He said that Montenegrin President Filip
Vujanovic would formally initiate the referendum procedure.
After talks with Krivokapic, Lajcak said that he expected
Montenegro's parliament to adopt the bill on referendum, which will
contain also the EU proposal.
"I believe that the session on Wednesday of Montenegro's
parliament will bring good news that will be sent from Montenegro
to Europe," Lajcak told reporters in Podgorica.
(Xinhua News Agency March 1, 2006)
