Russia recognises Montenegro's independence

MOSCOW, June 11 (Reuters) Russia said today it recognised the independence of Montenegro, which voted last month to break away from a union with Serbia.

''In line with a decree by the President of the Russian Federation, Russia has recognised the Republic of Montenegro as a separate, independent and sovereign state,'' Russia's foreign ministry said in a statement posted on its Web site www.mid.ru.

''A proposal has been made to Montenegro to hold negotiations on establishing diplomatic relations between the two states at the level of ambassadors and to open embassies in Moscow and Podgorica,'' it added.

The announcement was largely a formality after the tiny Balkan republic voted in a referendum on May 21 by more than the required 55 per cent for independence, completing the breakup of former Yugoslavia.

But Moscow's statement symbolically appeared a day earlier than the European Union's recognition of Montenegro's independence planned tomorrow.

Russia decried the breakup of Yugoslavia, and was an ally of former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic who died in jail in The Hague before a verdict was expected in his trial on war crimes charges dating back to the wars that accompanied Yugoslavia's bloody collapse.

The EU on Thursday urged Serbia and Montenegro to pursue a direct and constructive dialogue on their future relations, offering help with the dialogue which Belgrade has rejected.

REUTERS CH BST1843