Serbia began to consolidate its institutions with new
nominations on Sunday, a day after Montenegro declared
independence.
Serbia-Montenegro, which was renamed from the former Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia in February 2003, was a loose union as the
two states shared only defense and foreign affairs.
Lt. Gen. Ljubisa Jokic, a Montenegrin officer who had headed the
joint force, was replaced by a top Serbian officer, said
Serbia-based Defense Minister Zoran Stankovic.
Key figures in the military intelligence service were also
replaced, Stankovic said.
Under a separation provision, each new republic keeps military
facilities in its own territory, but soldiers and officers will be
relocated.
Serbian soldiers and officers will be withdrawn from Montenegro
and Montenegrins serving in Serbia can return to their native
republic to join its new force.
The nomination of the new foreign minister is yet to be decided.
There was speculation that former Serbia-Montenegro Foreign
Minister Vuk Draskovic could take up the post.
Dozens of embassies and residences abroad are yet to be divided
after the split-up.
Serbia inherits membership in the United Nations and other
international organizations, while Montenegro, the smaller
republic, needs to apply for a new membership.
Serbia's parliament is to convene Monday to formally establish
statehood, said assembly speaker Predrag Markovic.
"As the legal successor of the union, Serbia must formally take
over what it inherited," Markovic said.
Montenegro's voters chose independence in a May 21
referendum.
(Xinhua News Agency June 5, 2006)
