Podgorica: Montenegrin Foreign Minister Milan Rocen has said Montenegro would not take any measures that might have a negative effect on its relations with Serbia, regardless of Serbia's hasty reaction which he said he hoped was of short-term nature.

The Montenegrin government said in a statement that Rocen was speaking during a meeting with the European Union (EU) member-states ambassadors to Montenegro and head of the European Commission delegation to Montenegro Leopold Mauer.

The Montenegrin foreign minister informed the ambassadors about the situation in Montenegro and assessments following the government's decision on the recognition of the unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo.

On behalf of the ambassadors of the EU member-states French Ambassador Bernard Garancher congratulated Montenegro on its decision and what he described as an excellent behaviour it had shown.

Garancher welcomed Montenegro s decision to take a "rational stand towards Serbia's reactions."

In this context he stressed the expectation of the EU countries that Serbia would contribute to the strengthening of good neighbourly relations, which represent a precondition for its European future.

Garancher stressed that EU members would respect the fact that Montenegro had made this decision with the aim of speeding up the process of EU integration and contributing to the stability of the region as a whole.
Source : PTI