Serbia expels Montenegrin ambassador 9 October 2008 | 20:46 -> *22:29* | Source: Beta, Tanjug
*BELGRADE -- Montenegro's ambassador to Serbia is no longer welcome in the country, Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremić says. * Jeremić spoke for Tanjug on Thursday shortly after the government in Podgorica announced that it recognizes Kosovo Albanians' unilaterally declared independence <http://www.b92.net/eng/news/region-article.php?yyyy=2008&mm=10&dd=09&nav_id=54087>. The foreign minister told the news agency that Belgrade has decided to opt for the move to expel Ambassador Anka Vojvodić – one of the solutions envisaged under the country's Kosovo Action Plan. "We believe that this move is an adequate measure considering that the countries of the region have a particular responsibility to keep the peace and stability in the Balkans," Jeremić added. Podgorica's decision regarding Kosovo, he continued, is all the more grave considering that the UN General Assembly yesterday referred the issue <http://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics-article.php?yyyy=2008&mm=10&dd=08&nav_id=54059>of the independence proclamation to the International Court of Justice. "It was a decision made under pressure," he said of the Montenegrin recognition. "It was made under pressure from those whose ideas and positions on the Kosovo problem were defeated during the General Assembly voting. Since those pressures have taken precedence as the Montenegrin government made its decision, we have opted for this step," Jeremić continued. "We must show steadfastness and be firm in the defense of our territorial integrity and sovereignty, and after the UN General Assembly vote, our reaction to any endangering of our territorial integrity will be decisive," the foreign minister was quoted as saying. Meanwhile Vojvodić, who was seen entering the Foreign Ministry in Belgrade late on Thursday, confirmed for reporters after she emerged from the building that she had been handed a note which officially designates her a persona non grata in Serbia. "I am not sure this is a good political move, but as my country's ambassador I bear this stoically," she said, and added that she will respect the measure against her. __________ Information from ESET Smart Security, version of virus signature database 3508 (20081009) __________ The message was checked by ESET Smart Security. http://www.eset.com Serbian News Network - SNN [email protected] http://www.antic.org/
