Both Montenegro and Macedonia recognized Kosovo's independence on Thursday, 9th October. Serbia called the moves by its Balkan neighbors a betrayal and expelled the Montenegrin ambassador from Belgrade.
The moves represent a major blow to Serbia's diplomatic efforts to maintain a claim over Kosovo, considered by Serbs to be the cradle of their Orthodox Christian religion and statehood.
Montenegro and Macedonia — both seeking membership in NATO and the European Union — have been under pressure from the United States and some EU countries to recognize Kosovo's February declaration of independence. The two coordinated with one another in recognizing Kosovo. Montenegro's Foreign Minister, Milan Rocen, said : "This is not a decision against Serbia, but for our future".
The Macedonian Foreign Minister also suggested the move was inevitable.
The Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic said Montenegro's move was a particular betrayal, given that the country was both a close ally and a neighbor. Montenegro separated from Serbia only in 2006, and its officials sided with Serbia during the region's ethnic wars in the 1990s.
However, pro-Serb officials are not a part of the current government in Montenegro, a tiny Adriatic Sea State almost equally split between Montenegrin and pro-Serb nationalists.
The moves represent a major blow to Serbia's diplomatic efforts to maintain a claim over Kosovo, considered by Serbs to be the cradle of their Orthodox Christian religion and statehood.
Montenegro and Macedonia — both seeking membership in NATO and the European Union — have been under pressure from the United States and some EU countries to recognize Kosovo's February declaration of independence. The two coordinated with one another in recognizing Kosovo. Montenegro's Foreign Minister, Milan Rocen, said : "This is not a decision against Serbia, but for our future".
The Macedonian Foreign Minister also suggested the move was inevitable.
The Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic said Montenegro's move was a particular betrayal, given that the country was both a close ally and a neighbor. Montenegro separated from Serbia only in 2006, and its officials sided with Serbia during the region's ethnic wars in the 1990s.
However, pro-Serb officials are not a part of the current government in Montenegro, a tiny Adriatic Sea State almost equally split between Montenegrin and pro-Serb nationalists.
