India recognises Govt of Republic of Montenegro

New Delhi, Aug 10 (UNI) India has recognised the Government of the Republic of Montenegro.

A communication was sent by Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma to Montenegro Foreign Minister Miodrag Vlahovic on August two informing him about India's decision, an External Affairs Ministry spokesman said today.

Following this step, formal establishment of diplomatic relations is being initiated.

The Indian Ambassador in Belgrade will be concurrently accredited to the Republic of Montenegro, the spokesman added.

In the letter, Mr Sharma said India recognises Montenegro as an independent and sovereign state and expressed readiness to establish diplomatic relations in due time.

The letter also conveys congratulations to the people and the Government of Montenegro on independence gained according to the free will of its citizens and all international standards and practice, in a peaceful and democratic way.

Montenegro is a maritime country, with 200 km of the Adriatic coastline. Its territory measures 13,812 square km. (about the size of Connecticut) and its population numbers about 620,000.

The country, Crna Gora in the Montenegrin language, became an independent state on June 3, after a vote in favour of independence in the referendum of May 21.

The Republic of Montenegro became the 179th Member State of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) on July 14. The country has been a member of the United Nations since June 22.

Montenegro, located in the southern part of the Balkan peninsula, borders on Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia and Kosovo, and Albania.

The Montenegrin language, the Zeta dialect of Ijekavian, is closely related to Serbian. The East Herzegovinian dialect is also spoken in the country.

UNI RB VA RAI1900