EU's Solana welcomes "successful" Montenegro vote

BRUSSELS, May 22 (Reuters) European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana today said he welcomed the ''successful'' independence referendum by Montenegro at the weekend and that the EU would fully respect the outcome of the vote.

''I want to congratulate the Montenegrin people for the successful referendum that took place yesterday,'' Solana told a news briefing.

''It seems that the process was orderly and we have to congratulate everybody for that.'' An official preliminary count showed more than 55 per cent of Montenegrins voted for independence, achieving the majority set by the European Union for recognition of the result.

Solana said the turnout of 87 per cent ''confirms the legitimacy of the process''.

''The EU will fully respect the result of the referendum,'' he added.

REUTERS PG PM1613