Day of Independence of Montenegro

flagOn June 3, 2006, the Parliament of Montenegro, a former Soviet republic within Yugoslavia, declared the independence of Montenegro and its withdrawal from the union with Serbia. This announcement is based on the results of the referendum on 21 May 2006, in which 55.5% of Montenegro's voters voted for independence. The parliament also adopted a resolution on the constitution of a new sovereign state, which declares Montenegro an independent, democratic and civil state. Montenegro’s goal will be to join the European Union and NATO. The desire for early accession to the EU and NATO is one of the main reasons for declaring independence.

In mid-June, Montenegro was recognized by most countries and international organizations. On June 28, Montenegro became the 192nd member of the United Nations.

Although Serbian officials did not take part in the celebrations in Montenegro, Serbian President Boris Tadic sent a telegram wishing “Peace, stability and prosperity.”

Montenegro is the last federal republic of Yugoslavia to become a sovereign state. Until the early 1990s, Yugoslavia consisted of six republics: Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia and Montenegro. Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia withdrew from Yugoslavia in the early 1990s. The collapse of Yugoslavia was accompanied by civil war.