MONTENEGRO: FCO TRAVEL ADVICE

SAFETY AND SECURITY

You should be aware of the incidence of street crime, particularly in larger towns. Be extra vigilant for pick pocketing in public places such as airports and on public transportation. As a foreigner, you may be a target for criminals who may assume you are carrying large amounts of cash. Four wheel drive and luxury vehicles are also a popular target.

All incidents of crime should be reported to the local police, from whom you should obtain a report.

Special care should be taken in the areas that border Kosovo, and you should keep to the main roads. You should also avoid all areas of military activity.

Public transport (including the rail network) is outdated and overcrowded although there have been improvements in the major towns. When using taxis, it is possible to negotiate fares where a meter is not in use. You should only use taxis that are officially marked.

You must have a valid international driver's licence to drive in Montenegro. If you are taking your car, you must have vehicle registration/ ownership documents and a locally valid insurance policy. European green card vehicle insurance is now valid in Montenegro.

You are advised to drive defensively and to avoid confrontation with other drivers. You are required by law to wear a seatbelt. You must drive with dipped headlights on during the day and must not use a mobile phone while driving. Excessive speeding (30km over the limit) could lead to your driving licence being temporarily confiscated. These offences could result in fines of between €20-300.

The general standard of roads is fair to poor with conditions worsening in rural areas, especially in the winter and after bad weather. Many roads are under construction, so there are often delays and detours. A particularly notorious road is the two-lane Moraca Canyon in Montenegro, which is often made dangerous by bad conditions and overcrowding. There are no toll roads in Montenegro. The only pay-to-drive-through point in Montenegro is the Sozina tunnel between Lake Skadar and the sea – the current fee is €2.50 per car.

You should check local developments before starting your journey.

LOCAL LAWS AND CUSTOMS

Drugs laws are similar to those in the UK. Possession or trafficking of drugs will be met with strict penalties and usually a lengthy prison sentence.

There are no laws against homosexual activity and same-sex couples are tolerated, but the nature of society makes public displays of affection inadvisable.

Please note that taking photographs of military and police installations and/ or personnel or vehicles anywhere in Montenegro may lead to difficulties with the authorities.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

British passport holders do not require visas to enter Montenegro for stays of up to 90 days. Before you travel, you should ensure that your passport is undamaged and valid for the duration of your stay Montenegro.

On entering Montenegro make sure that you get an entry stamp in your passport from the border police. If you try to leave Montenegro without an entry stamp or exit visa, you may face charges of illegal immigration, a heavy fine and possible imprisonment (see 'Crime'). Temporary residents (in the country for more than 90 days) should obtain exit-entry visas as well as residence stamps in their passports. You should only enter Montenegro through recognised border crossings. The Kula pass (Rozaje-Pec road) is the only official entry/exit point between Montenegro and Kosovo.

It is essential that you register with local police in the town/city where you are staying within 24 hours of your arrival in Montenegro, unless you are staying in a hotel or official tourist accommodation, where you will be registered automatically on checking-in. If you do not register you may be fined, detained or face a court appearance. You are also advised to register with, or make your presence known to, the Honorary Consul in Podgorica.

HEALTH

We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for the activities you want to undertake.

There is a reciprocal healthcare agreement for British nationals, which entitles you to free genuine emergency treatment in Montenegro. However, the health system in Montenegro suffers from a widespread shortage of medicines and other essentials. Payment in cash is normally required for treatment and you are advised to take out comprehensive travel insurance to cover medical evacuation.

You should seek medical advice before travelling and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up to date. For further information on health, check the Department of Health's website at: www.dh.gov.uk

NATURAL DISASTERS

Montenegro lies in a seismically active zone, and earth tremors are common. Serious earthquakes are less frequent but do occur. The last serious earthquake was in 1979 when 94 people were killed and 1000 injured along the Montenegrin coast.

GENERAL

You should carry your passport at all times. We therefore advise that you keep a photocopy of your passport in a safe place. This will help you to obtain a replacement, in case your passport is lost or stolen. If you lose your passport in Montenegro, exit visas are required in replacement travel documents, as your original entry stamp will have been lost with your passport. You can obtain this from the local police.

The loss or theft of a British passport should be reported immediately to the local police and the Honorary Consul in Podgorica or the British Embassy in Belgrade, Serbia. The Honorary Consul in Podgorica cannot directly issue new passports but he will assist with the arrangements to apply for a passport via Belgrade. If your passport is lost or stolen the British Embassy in Belgrade can issue you an Emergency Passport (valid for up to 7 days and for return journey to UK only) or a Temporary Passport (valid for up to 12 months and for multiple journeys).

Please note that from 23 August 2006, the British Embassy in Belgrade will no longer issue new standard British passports. Applications for full passports will be electronically transferred from British Embassy Belgrade to the British Embassy in Vienna for production, and the waiting period will be approx. 4-6 weeks. This is due to requirements for all new passports to be machine readable and capable of storing biometric information, as well as to help reduce forgery.

The official currency of Montenegro is the Euro. Credit cards and travellers' cheques are now accepted in many of the larger hotels and shops, and ATMs increasingly also accept international bank cards. Only Bank of England issued bank notes are recognised or exchanged in Montenegro. Scottish and Northern Irish pounds sterling bank notes are not accepted. Serbian Dinars are not accepted.

Police in Montenegro have recently seized large amounts of forged Euros. More counterfeit notes may still be in circulation so you should take care to ensure that notes you receive from sources other than banks and legitimate Bureaus de Change are genuine.

Although there is no limit to the amount of money you can bring into Montenegro, you are advised to declare large sums of money in excess of €2,000 (including travellers' cheques or equivalent in other currencies). This is recommended because to take more than €2,000 out of the country you will need to provide proof that you brought the money in. Customs Officers at all border points hold declaration forms.

On departure, you will need to return a certified copy of this declaration to customs so that money can be taken out again. If you fail to comply with these rules, your money may be confiscated. In order to avoid customs charges you should declare items of value (eg. jewellery, photographic and computer equipment) that you are temporarily importing into Montenegro. These items should be intended for your own personal use and you must take them with you on leaving the country.

CONSULAR CONTACT DETAILS

When you arrive in Montenegro you are advised to register with, or make your presence known to the Honorary Consul in Podgorica and/or the Consular Section of the British Embassy in Belgrade, Serbia.

Please note that the British Office in Podgorica currently has no Consular function. Emergency Consular services are available from the Honorary Consul located at Njegoseva 5, Podgorica, Montenegro (tel: +381 81 665 014, mobile +381 67 812 914). Business address: Crnogorska Komercijalna Banka, Novaka Miloseva 6, 81000, Podgorica, Montenegro (tel: +381 81 202 973, fax: +381 81 201 937). Email:

A full consular service is available in Belgrade, Serbia at the British Embassy, which is located at Resavska 46, 11000, Belgrade (tel: + 381 11 2645 055; fax: +381 11 659 651).

CONTACT DETAILS

Address: British Office, Bulevar Svetog Petra Cetinjskog nn, First Floor, No.3, 81000 Podgorica, Montenegro

Telephone: (381) (81) 205 460

Email:

Office Hours: GMT: Mon-Thurs: 0700-1500, Fri 0700-1100

Local Time: Mon-Thurs: 0800-1600, Fri: 0800-1200

MONTENEGRO: FCO COUNTRY PROFILE

BASIC INFORMATION

Full Country Name: Republic of Montenegro (formerly part of the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro)

Capital City: Podgorica (administrative centre) and Cetinje (historic/cultural capital)

Area: 13,812 sq km

Population: 650,575. Figures as published on Montenegro Government website.

Major Languages: Montenegrin, Serbian, Bosnia, Albanian, Croatian.

Major Religions and Denominations: Christianity (Eastern Orthodoxy and Catholicism), Islam.

Currency: Euro

Major Political Parties: Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS), Social Democratic Party (SDP), Movement for Changes (PZP), Socialist People's Party (SNP), People's Socialist Party (NSS), People's Party (NS), Democratic Serbian Party (DSS), Serbian Radical Party (SRS), Serbian People's Party (SNS), Liberal Party (LP), Party of Democratic Prosperity (PDP), Croatian Civic Initiative (HGI), Bosniak Party (BS), Democratic Party of Unity (DSJ), Democratic Union of Albanians (DUA), Democratic Alliance of Albanians (DSA), Albanian Alternative (AA).

Montenegro Parliament: 81 seats (elected by direct vote every 4 years)

Head of State: President Filip Vujanovic (DPS)

Prime Minister: Zeljko Sturanovic (DPS)

Foreign Minister: Milan Rocen (DPS)

Membership of International Organisations: United Nations (UN), Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), European Bank of Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Central European Initiative (CEI), International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the Stability Pact.

Currently applying for membership of the following International Organisations: Council of Europe (CoE), International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank (WB), World Trade Organisation (WTO), South-Eastern Co-operation Initiative (SECI) and the South Eastern Europe Co-operation Process (SEECP).

GEOGRAPHY

Montenegro shares external borders with Bosnia to the north-west, Serbia to the north-east and east, Albania to the south, and has a 14km border with Croatia to the west. To the south west Montenegro has 293.5 kilometres of coastline on the Adriatic Sea, including 52km of beaches.

Montenegro's landscape is varied. The Adriatic coastline enjoys a Mediterranean climate and is made up of beaches, bays and coves. The impressive Bay of Kotor is Europe's southernmost fjord. The inland landscape ranges from fertile lowlands alongside lakes and river valleys to high mountains with dense forest and deep canyons. The name 'Montenegro' – meaning black mountain – probably came from the dense 'black' forests which covered the country's mountainous alpine regions.

HISTORY

In 1858, as Ottoman influence in the Balkans declined, Montenegro became an independent principality within the Austro-Hungarian Empire. In 1878 Montenegro was recognised as an independent and sovereign principality by the Congress of Berlin.

The 1912-13 Balkan wars against Turkey, followed by the Treaty of London, brought Montenegro more territorial gains on the Albanian and Kosovan borders. In the First World War, Montenegro fought on the side of the Allies but was defeated and occupied by Austria. King Nikola I and his government went into exile and, in 1918, an Assembly in Podgorica deposed Nikola I and declared Montenegro part of the new 'Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes' under a Serbian King, a move that was resisted by some Montenegrins. The new state was renamed the 'Kingdom of Yugoslavia' in 1929.

During the Second World War, in April 1941, Yugoslavia was invaded and partitioned by the Axis powers, with Montenegro falling under the control of the Italians. However, Montenegro's mountainous interior and the strength of the local Communist Party made it an ideal operating base for the Partisans.

When Yugoslavia emerged in 1945 as a socialist federation, under the communist partisan leader Josip Broz (Tito), Montenegro was granted the status of a republic, along with Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia, Serbia and Macedonia. Tito ruled the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY) for 35 years, sharing power amongst Yugoslavia's constituent nations.

Tito's death in 1980 signalled the beginning of the end of the SFRY. The state's economic decline continued and, increasingly, the power sharing issue rose up the agenda. In 1989 Slobodan Milosevic, riding a wave of nationalist sentiment, came to power in Serbia, quickly installing his supporters in positions of power and severely restricting the autonomy of Kosovo and Vojvodina. In the wars of the early nineties, Montenegro remained an ally of Serbia. Montenegrins fought in Bosnia and Croatia; and were involved in the siege and bombing of Dubrovnik. Following the secession of the other Yugoslav republics between 1991 and 1992, Serbia and Montenegro adopted the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) on 27 April 1992, and declared themselves a new state.

Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic remained loyal to Milosevic until the mid-nineties, when he began to advocate Montenegrin independence. In 1997, following bitterly contested elections in Montenegro, Djukanovic became President (defeating the incumbent Milosevic candidate). The Montenegrin government distanced itself from Belgrade and criticised Milosevic's policies and the Serbian army's actions in Kosovo in 1998-1999. The ruling coalition boycotted the 2000 federal elections, which led to Milosevic's eventual removal from power. His regime came to an abrupt end on 5 October 2000, following the FRY Presidential elections and widespread street protests.

On 14 March 2002, following months of negotiations between the two republics and mediation by EU High Representative Javier Solana, the federal and republic level governments signed the 'Belgrade Agreement' forming a looser union between Serbia and Montenegro. With the formal adoption of a new Constitutional Charter on 4 February 2003 the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia became the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro. Foreign policy, defence policy, foreign economic relations and human/minority rights were dealt with at State Union level. Svetozar Marovic, a Montenegrin, was appointed President of Serbia and Montenegro, and Vuk Draskovic was Foreign Minister.

The State Union was intended to promote stability within the region and to help both republics to make further progress towards European integration, but, since its birth, opinion about the future of the union was divided in both republics and it never functioned effectively. Under the terms of the Constitutional Charter either republic could hold a referendum on independence after three years. In 2006 Montenegro decided to exercise this right and, under the close watch of the EU, held a referendum on its future status on 21 May. The result was 55.5% in favour of independence (For further details on the referendum see 'Recent Political Situation' section below.)

The Montenegro Assembly made a formal declaration of independence on 3 June 2006, thus bringing the union between Serbia and Montenegro to an end. Since then the Montenegro government has been transforming itself into an independent sovereign state, establishing diplomatic relations and applying for membership of international organisations that it was a member of as part of the Union.

On 5 June 2006 the Serbian National Assembly decreed Serbia to be the continuing international personality of the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro, fully succeeding its legal status. Serbia therefore inherited membership of international organisations of which Serbia and Montenegro was a member and remains party to all international agreements, treaties and conventions to which Serbia and Montenegro was a party.

ECONOMY

(Source CIA World Factbook and Government of Montenegro)

GDP: € 1.644 billion (2005)

GDP real growth rate: 4.3% (2005)

GDP per capita: € 2600

Population below poverty line: 12.2% (2003)

Unemployment rate: 16.4% (2006)

Inflation: 3.4% (2005)

Official Currency: Euro

Major industries: Tourism, aluminium production, steel production, agricultural processing.

Major trading partners: Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece, Serbia.

The Republic of Montenegro severed its economy from the former Yugoslavia's federal control and from Serbia during the Milosevic (pre-2000) era and maintained its own central bank, collected customs tariffs, and managed its own budget. On 1 January 2002, it ceased to use the Yugoslav Dinar and adopted the Euro as its official currency in response to rising inflation across Serbia and Montenegro. Inflation has since reduced significantly.

Following the dissolution of the State Union with Serbia in May 2006, Montenegro applied for membership of several international financial institutions, such as the IMF, World Bank, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Montenegro is also pursuing its own membership to the World Trade Organisation.

Economic reform in recent years has led to economic recovery though the pace has been relatively slow. Reform of the financial sector in 2005 helped improve growth across all sectors of the economy. Tourism is becoming a major strength in the Montenegrin economy and continues to grow. Visitor numbers were up 35% in the first quarter of 2006 over the same period the previous year. Unemployment remains a key political and economic problem, though it has reduced significantly over recent years.

The EU, the largest donor, has since 1991 committed €2.9 billion to Serbia and Montenegro and currently has in place a programme of aid for the region called the Community Assistance for Reconstruction, Development and Stabilisation (CARDS). Large amounts of aid have been spent, particularly in the reconstruction of Montenegro's physical infrastructure. Now the focus is on the institutional changes required for the continuation of the transition process and European integration. From 2007–2013, the EU's aid for the region will be delivered through the Instrument for Pre-Accession (IPA), which streamlines and simplifies all existing pre-accession assistance within a single framework covering both candidate and potential candidate countries.

The UK supports the Government of Montenegro through the CARDS programme and through our share of World Bank and EBRD lending to Montenegro. For further information, please consult the following websites:

POLITICS

Since the birth of the State Union in 2002, the 'independence' issue has dominated politics in Montenegro. The 2003 Constitutional Charter provided for either republic to hold a referendum on independence after 3 years. The Montenegrin government and opposition decided to hold a referendum on 21 May 2006.

In December 2005, EU High Representative Javier Solana appointed Miroslav Lajcak, former Slovak Ambassador in Belgrade, as his personal envoy for the Montenegro referendum. Lajcak's role was to facilitate dialogue between the pro-independence bloc (led by Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic and his government) and the pro-union bloc (led by opposition leader Predrag Bulatovic) and help them to agree terms for the referendum. Lajcak successfully brokered a deal with both sides, agreeing that for Montenegro to become independent at least 50% of the electorate must take part, with 55% voting in favour of independence. This was then enshrined in a special referendum law adopted by the Montenegrin Parliament in March 2006.

For the outcome to be accepted both internationally and within Montenegro it was imperative that the referendum and the preceding campaign was constitutional, democratic, free, fair, peaceful and in line with international standards. The referendum was monitored by thousands of international and domestic election observers, made up of the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), European Union Monitoring Mission, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, and Montenegrin NGOs including CEMI and CDT. Given the size of the electorate it was one of the most intensely scrutinised votes in European history.

Turnout on referendum day was 86.5% of registered voters and 55.5% voted for independence from the State Union, just above the 55% threshold. ODIHR assessed that the referendum was conducted according to OSCE and Council of Europe commitments and other international standards for democratic election processes and was marked by an active and generally peaceful campaign. On 3 June 2006 the Montenegro Assembly passed a declaration on independence. This was followed on 5 June by a Serbian National Assembly resolution declaring Serbia to be successor to the State Union.

The first Parliamentary Assembly elections in an independent Montenegro were held on 10 September 2006. The DPS-SDP Coalition for a European Montenegro led by Prime Minister Djukanovic won, securing a majority of 41 of the 81 parliamentary seats – enough to form a government. The Serb List (a coalition of SNS, SRS, NSS and DSJ) led by Andrija Mandic made considerable gains, winning 12 seats to become the official opposition, while the former opposition SNP-NS-DSS coalition led by Predrag Bulatovic dropped to 11 seats, having formerly held 26. The new party (and former NGO) Movement for Changes, led by Nebojsa Medojevic, also won 11 seats. The remaining five seats are shared between the LP and minority parties.

The ODIHR's international observation mission assessed that the elections were conducted largely in line with international standards, but highlighted some remaining challenges which must be addressed to ensure a democratic and transparent election process.

The current President of Montenegro Filip Vujanovic (DPS) was successfully elected on 11 May 2003, winning 64.25% of the valid votes cast. The next presidential elections will be in 2008.

On 03 October 2006 President Vujanovic announced the resignation of Prime Minister Djukanovic and nominated the Minister for Justice, Zeljko Sturanovic, as the next Prime Minister. On 10 November 2006 the Montenegrin Parliament ratified this decision and Prime Minister Sturanovic announced his new cabinet, in which Milan Rocen replaced Miodrag Vlahovic as Foreign Minister.

Like many countries in the Balkans region, Montenegro faces problems with organised crime. The conflicts of the 1990s and the isolation caused by international sanctions created a vacuum, which criminals exploited in order to establish lucrative networks, which reached into government and retarded social and economic development. Organised crime and corruption are obstacles to the rule of law, democratic stability, and sound and accountable institutions.

The UK supports the countries of the region in the fight against organised crime and has funded various initiatives in Serbia and Montenegro. These have included: a €944,780 Customs Enforcement Project, which, through the recruitment and training of specialist staff, helps reduce illegal immigration and trafficking; and a RTV B92 "Stop the Crime" programme, after the assassination of Prime Minister Djindjic, which produced 52 Truth and Reconciliation programmes, 24 Stop the Crime programmes and paid for airing the international version of the Fall of Milosevic series (this project was worth over £100,000). It will be important that the Montenegrin Authorities continue their efforts to tackle organised crime as they move towards the EU.

DEFENCE

Minister of Defence: MS Boro Vucinic

Chief of the General Staff: Colonel General Lakcevic

Head of the Navy: Rear Admiral Samardzic

Defence was formerly dealt with at State Union level, so the Montenegrin Government is now in the process of forming its own Ministry of Defence. A Defence Law is being drafted, which will provide a legal basis for the creation and authority of a Ministry of Defence. The Montenegrin Armed Forces will be army based but also include a Navy (with a primarily frigate and coastal protection maritime force) and an Air Force (with a rotary wing air capability).

The split of the Montenegrin Armed Forces from Serbia has been tackled maturely, with some personnel in Montenegro choosing to serve the Serbian Armed Forces and some in Serbia choosing to serve Montenegro as a Sovereign State. Initial reforms of the Armed Forces have already been delivered. These include reducing the number of personnel by half (from around 6000) and fully professionalising the Armed Forces by ending conscription and compulsory armed service. Such reforms are expected to continue.

The UK MOD expects to continue its fruitful defence relationship with Montenegro as a sovereign state. The British bilateral programme of assistance is expected to continue with a preliminary Clearing House Working Group meeting scheduled for the end of September 2006, where Britain and key Allies can help identify and advise on Montenegrin defence needs. The Global Conflict Prevention Pool is expected to continue to fund a comprehensive package of projects, such as English Language Training for Service Personnel, function effectively in Euro-Atlantic structures in the future.

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

After the removal of Milosevic in 2000, the FRY authorities made great efforts to rebuild bridges with the international community. FRY rejoined the United Nations, and joined various other international organisations, including the IMF, OSCE and the Council of Europe. In October 2005, Serbia and Montenegro began negotiations with the EU for a Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA), the first step in the process of EU integration.(Please see "Relations with the EU" section below for more on the status of Montenegro's SAA negotiations.)

The UK government believes that Montenegro's future lies in the EU and NATO, should the country wish. Close relations with her neighbours and the rest of the international community are also important. We look forward to Montenegro's membership in further European and international organisations, once the necessary requirements and conditions are met.

The UK government wants Montenegro to maintain the same clear Euro-Atlantic perspective it had when part of the State Union, whilst remaining subject to the same conditions. We support Montenegro's NATO aspirations and looks forward to her membership of NATO's Partnership for Peace (PfP) programme when all NATO conditions have been met. These conditions include full co-operation with International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), and that Montenegro plays a constructive role in regional stability.

In the past the UK and NATO have shown commitment to working with Serbia and Montenegro on defence reform. In May 2003 NATO Allies agreed a Tailored Co-operation Programme to help Serbia and Montenegro prepare for PfP membership. Serbia and Montenegro adopted a Defence Strategy in November 2004 and a White Paper in April 2005.

The EU formally took the decision to open Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) negotiations with Serbia and Montenegro at the General Affairs and External Relations Council on 3 October 2005 and the ceremonial opening of negotiations took place on 10 October. Official and technical rounds of negotiations follow every couple of months. The decision followed a positive Feasibility Study in April 2005 – a Commission led evaluation report establishing whether a country is ready to negotiate a SAA with the EU. The EU made clear that the 'pace and conclusion' of SAA talks would depend on 'progress in developing legislative framework and administrative capacity, the effective implementation of the constitutional charter, and full co-operation with the ICTY'.

On 3 May 2006 EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn suspended SAA negotiation talks following an assessment by ICTY Chief Prosecutor Carla Del Ponte that Belgrade was not co-operating fully with the Tribunal, particularly in respect of the high profile fugitive indictee Ratko Mladic. The decision followed several warnings from the EU earlier in the year. However, following independence and a positive report from the ICTY on Montenegro's co-operation, SAA talks were restarted on 26 September 2006. Serbia's SAA talks remain suspended

When negotiations are completed, the signed SAA creates a contractual relationship between a country of the region and the EU, after which formal accession negotiations may follow.

The Council of Europe was set up in 1949 and works to promote democracy and human rights throughout its member states. Serbia and Montenegro became the 45th member on 3 April 2003, having satisfied the membership condition of adopting the Constitutional Charter. Following the break-up of the State Union, Serbia inherited this membership of the Council of Europe, and Montenegro applied for her own membership on 6 June 2006. The request has been passed to the Parliamentary Assembly of the CoE who will make a decision. In order to become a member Montenegro will need to ratify the European Convention on Human Rights and work with the Council to promote and protect human rights and the rule of law.

HUMAN RIGHTS

The human rights situation in Montenegro has greatly improved over the past five years. Typically for a country in political and economic transition, some problems still remain. The State Union of Serbia and Montenegro adopted a Charter for Human and Minority Rights in 2003 and ratified the majority of human rights-related international conventions. Following independence we expect Montenegro to remain faithful to human rights commitments it made while part of the State Union and to ratify relevant international conventions and ensure they are fully implemented. We expect the new constitution to affirm Montenegro's commitment to defend human rights and implement international human rights legislation.

Legislation on the protection of national minorities was adopted in May 2006, but further efforts from the authorities are needed to implement it. A draft law on asylum should be adopted before the end of 2006.

Establishing freedom of the media, an independent judiciary, police reform, better accountability mechanisms for treatment of detainees by prison and law enforcement agencies, and combating human trafficking are all areas to address. Montenegro also has a role to play in bringing to justice those who perpetrated war crimes in the region in the 1990s, by continuing to co-operate with the ICTY.

ICTY

The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) was established in 1993 by the United Nations and is situated in The Hague in The Netherlands. It was set up through UN Security Council Resolution 827. The objectives of the Tribunal are: to bring to justice those allegedly responsible for violations of international humanitarian law; to render justice to the victims of these crimes; to deter further crimes; and to contribute to the restoration of peace by promoting reconciliation in the former Yugoslavia. All members of the United Nations are legally obliged to co-operate with the ICTY.

The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) passed a Law on Co-operation with the ICTY in April 2002 which provided a framework for co-operation with ICTY. This included responsibility to transfer people indicted for war crimes by ICTY to The Hague, and granting ICTY full access to archives and witnesses in Serbia and Montenegro. The Law was amended in April 2003 by the Serbia and Montenegro Government to state that all indictees, regardless of the their indictment date, should be extradited to The Hague. The law was also amended so that witnesses testifying in The Hague are no longer obliged to keep official state and military secrets.

On 7 June 2006 Chief Prosecutor Carla Del Ponte told the UN Security Council that "ICTY has maintained a positive relationship with Montenegro for over a year". Continued co-operation with the ICTY will remain a key international obligation as Montenegro moves towards the EU and NATO.

The UK continues to press for the speedy arrest and transfer of all outstanding indictees, including Bosnian Serb leaders Ratko Mladic and Radovan Karadzic.

On 27 July 2006, Montenegro's Chief State Prosecutor Vesna Medenica and her Croatian counterpart, Mladen Bajic, signed an Agreement on joint efforts to prosecute suspects who are believed to have committed crimes against humanity, including genocide. Local trials of war criminals in Montenegro are expected to start before long.

Under the agreement, the Montenegrin state prosecution is to file charges against its own citizens who have been accused of committing war crimes in Croatia and are inaccessible to the Croatian judiciary. This is because in both Montenegro and Croatia, citizens cannot be legally extradited to foreign countries. The Croatian state prosecution was obliged to inform the Montenegrin Supreme State Prosecutor about all war crimes cases within 30 days of the Agreement being signed. These war crimes primarily relate to atrocities committed in Dubrovnik during the then Yugoslav Army's military operations in southern Croatia in the wake of the break up of the former Yugoslav federation in the early 1990s.

RELATIONS WITH NEIGHBOURS

Montenegro's relations with its neighbours are complicated by the events of the past 15 years. However, relations between countries in the region have continued to improve. In December 2002, SaM and Croatia signed an interim agreement over the much-disputed Prevlaka Peninsula, a demilitarised zone which had been under UN control since 1992. In November 2003 during a visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina, SaM President Svetozar Marovic publicly apologised 'for any evil or disaster that any one from Serbia and Montenegro caused to anyone in Bosnia and Herzegovina'. He had previously made a similar apology during his September visit to Zagreb 'for all the evils any citizen of Serbia and Montenegro has committed against any citizen of Croatia'. Croatian President Stjepan Mesic made a historic visit to Belgrade in September 2003. In July 2005, Montenegro paid compensation to Croatia for damage to cattle during the war. Since independence, Montenegro has signed a co-operation agreement with Croatia on the prosecution of suspected war criminals.

On 26 June, President Tadic of Serbia was the first Head of State to officially visit Montenegro following the declaration of independence (this followed an earlier visit that he had made to Montenegro on 27 May). Issues related to the separation process of the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro have been progressing peacefully.

MONTENEGRO RELATIONS WITH THE UK

The UK formally recognised the Republic of Montenegro as an independent sovereign state and established diplomatic relations on 13 June 2006. We announced our intention to upgrade the British Office in Podgorica to an Embassy as soon as practicable. On 17 November 2006 it was announced that Mr. John Dyson MVO will become the first resident Ambassador in the newly independent Montenegro, replacing the non-resident Ambassador.

The Embassy of Serbia and Montenegro in London became the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia on 05 June 2006, and Montenegrin diplomats, including the Ambassador, were recalled. Montenegro has announced its intention to open an Embassy in London.

There is currently no Montenegrin diplomatic representation in the UK. The Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in London offers consular services for Montenegrins visiting the UK.

During his visit to Belgrade in November 2002, the Foreign Secretary signed a Cultural Agreement between the governments of the United Kingdom and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia on Co-operation in the Fields of Education, Science, Culture and Sport. The purpose of the agreement is to strengthen cultural relations and promote exchanges in the fields mentioned above, through the British Council.

The British Embassy in Belgrade, together with the British Council, has done much to promote the United Kingdom in Montenegro as well as in Serbia. For example a 'British Day' event was held in Kotor in November 2003, and coincided with a visit to the town by the British Naval Ship HMS Somerset. A similar event, which helped establish links with local businessmen, officials and students, was held in Niksic in November 2002.

On 3 June 2003, Serbia and Montenegro played England in a friendly football match at the Walkers Stadium in Leicester. SaM played Wales in Belgrade and Cardiff during the qualifying stages of the Euro 2004 tournament.

The British Council has been operating in Podgorica, Montenegro since 1993. This small office runs projects in the areas of education, arts and cultural heritage, and administers the Cambridge and IELTS exams, Chevening scholarships, aiming at a wide audience from young people to decision makers. It has a varied programme of educational and cultural events.

The British Council's priorities are mutual promotion of the British and Montenegrin culture and education and development of Montenegrin education system and English language learning. Its key partners are the Ministry of Culture and the Media and Ministry of Education and Science as well as referent local institutions and organisations. For further details please refer to the British Council bilingual website.