At the start of the talks we had much stronger support from Europe for a federal option than at the end. Europe’s fear of a referendum in Montenegro and Belgrade’s problems in relation to The Hague had their effect.

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An independent Montenegro is a risky experiment in economic terms, but the citizens of Montenegro have the right to make such an experiment. In three years’ time they will be able to exercise that right, and the exercise of that right will then have no negative consequences for Serbia.

Miroljub Labus, vice-premier of FRY and principal negotiator of the Belgrade Agreement on the Serbian side.