In quotes: Reaction to Montenegro vote

International and regional officials have been responding to the result.

MONTENEGRO PRIME MINISTER MILO DJUKANOVIC

By a majority decision of the citizens of Montenegro, the independence of the country has been renewed... We've got our state.

EU FOREIGN POLICY CHIEF JAVIER SOLANA

I want to congratulate the Montenegrin people for the successful referendum that took place yesterday...

Of course what we can say at this point in time from the European Union is that we will fully respect the result of the referendum.

SERBIAN FINANCE MINISTER MLADJAN DINKIC

The will of the majority in Montenegro, as shown in the referendum, must be respected ... I expect... Serbia and Montenegro to have friendly relations.

CROATIAN PRESIDENT STIPE MESIC

By the will of the majority of its citizens, Montenegro is embarking on the path of independence, but I am sure, not separated from its neighbours, but in friendship and co-operation with them.

Although at the referendum the citizens of Montenegro chose between two basically different and opposing options, the winner is, can and must be only one: Montenegro.

KOSOVO PRIME MINISTER AGIM CEKU

The people of Montenegro have expressed their will to live in an independent country, sharing with others in the region the aspiration to join the European Union.

Before the end of the year, Kosovo will join Montenegro as a new state and these new countries will be an important factor for the stability of the whole region.

BOSNIAN SERB PRIME MINISTER MILORAD DODIC

I absolutely support the decision reached in the referendum and which will be proclaimed by relevant institutions.

MACEDONIAN PRIME MINISTER VLADO BUCKOVSKI

Yesterday we witnessed the end of project Yugoslavia, which was formed at the time with good intentions.

SLOVENIAN PRESIDENT JANEZ DRNOVSEK

Slovenia wishes that Montenegro will continue successfully its way towards European integration and will reach peaceful co-habitation with other former Yugoslav peoples within a united Europe.

NATO SECRETARY GENERAL JAAP DE HOOP SCHEFFER

On behalf of NATO, I congratulate the Montenegrin authorities and the Montenegrin people for having held a free, fair and orderly referendum.

ALBANIAN PRIME MINISTER SALI BERISHA

Yesterday's decision made our region freer, more stable and secure on the road toward Euro-Atlantic integration.

FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN JEAN-BAPTISTE MATTEI

We call on the leaders of Serbia and Montenegro to respond to this vote in a spirit of trust and responsibility, in keeping with the interests of all concerned.

RELATED INTERNET LINKS:
Montenegrin government
Serbian government
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites