Reactions to Montenegro independence referendum

Описание: (22 May 2006)
1. Wide-shot of the main Republic Square in Belgrade
2. Close-up of monument in square
3. People waiting at a bus stop, reading papers
4. Newspaper seller peddling dailies
5. Various of newspaper headlines on Montenegro vote
6. Headline reading: "Independent"
7. Headline reading: "Separation"
8. Headline saying: "It's Over?"
9. Newspaper seller, people crossing street
10. SOUNDBITE: (Serbian) Vox pop:
"If this is correct and regular, there should be no problems, let them go (Montenegrins). Serbia should not bear any guilt in this, as we were for what happened in Bosnia, Croatia. Good luck to the Montenegrins."
11. SOUNDBITE: (Serbian) Vox pop
"It's high time to go our separate ways."
12. SOUNDBITE: (Serbian) Vox pop:
"I think this shows what our state is like since Montenegrins decided they want to leave us. May they go their own way."
13. SOUNDBITE: (Serbian) Vox pop:
"They were already a state separate and unto themselves. They had the euro as currency. If they want they should go. It's better to separate peacefully without troubles, victims or hangings. This is what they wanted. I support compromise."
14. People walking
15. Wide of National Theatre
STORYLINE
Serbians were mostly subdued in their reactions to unofficial voting results from Montenegro on Monday indicating the smaller republic had quit the union with the bigger Serbia.
On Sunday, Montenegrins who turned up overwhelmingly at the polls, appeared to have voted with 55.4 percent in support for the restoration of a statehood they lost to the Kingdom of Yugoslavia over 80 years ago.
The European Union has said a minimum 55 percent threshold of "Yes" votes was needed for Montenegro to secede.
The result confirms the split of the Serbia-Montenegro union, and writes the final chapter in the break up of the former Yugoslavia.
Even before the official results were announced, independence backers declared victory on Sunday, although the unionists refused to concede defeat and the state electoral commission said official results will not be published before Monday.
Thousands of independence supporters flooded the streets of the capital Podgorica and other towns to celebrate the restoring their statehood after 88 years of being in the Balkan union.
But while Montenegrins celebrated with fireworks and firing weapons into the air, no celebrations took place in Serbia which had by default become independent as well.
"They were already a state separate and unto themselves. They had the euro as currency. If they want they should go. It's better to separate peacefully without troubles, victims or hangings. This is what they wanted. I support compromise," said one local in Belgrade.
Serbian government officials said they would wait for confirmation of final Montenegro independence referendum results from an European Union envoy before offering any comment.
Testifying of the importance of the referendum for Montenegro, the turnout on Sunday was about 87 percent - the highest than at any election ever in the Balkan republic.

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