[JURIST] The Parliament [official website] of Montenegro [JURIST news archive; government website] issued a declaration of independence [text in Serbian; declaration to citizens, in English] Saturday on the basis of the May 21 referendum [JURIST report; CDT materials] in which 55.5% of Montenegrins voted in favor of independence from Serbia [JURIST news archive]. The new country's government, the last spin-off from the former Yugoslavia, says it plans to apply for membership to organizations such as the United Nations [official website], European Union [official website], and NATO [official website]. Serbian President Boris Tadic [personal website in Serbian; Wikipedia profile] offered good wishes to the newest European nation. AP has more.

Montenegro's referendum commission [official website] confirmed [JURIST report] the results of the independence referendum May 31, formally satisfying the controversial 55% threshold requirement [JURIST report] for independence set by the EU.