Final preparations are under way ahead of a landmark referendum on Montenegro's independence as leaders urged rival supporters to accept the result peacefully.
The referendum on Montenegro's independence from a federation with Serbia could be the final act in the dissolution of former communist Yugoslavia, four of whose six republics broke away in a series of 1990s wars.
"All technical preparations for the vote on Sunday have been completed," the chairman of the referendum commission, Slovak diplomat Frantisek Lipka, told local television.
Ballot papers had been printed and were due to be distributed to the 1,117 polling stations across the tiny republic before voting opens at 8:00 am (0600 GMT) on Sunday, Lipka said.
In the referendum, some 485,000 voters will be asked to choose "Yes" or "No" in answer to the question: "Do you want Montenegro to be an independent state with full international and legal legitimacy?"
As a ban on campaigning remained in force for a second day, leaders of the republic's pro-independence government and pro-Serbian opposition appealed to their supporters to accept the result "with dignity in both victory and defeat," local newspapers reported.
The daily Dan quoted Predrag Popovic of the pro-union bloc as saying "the camp that loses should concede the defeat, congratulate the winner and urge its supporters to behave correctly.
"The side that wins must do its utmost to prevent their celebrations from turning into a conflict with the other supporters," he added.
Predrag Sekulic of the pro-independence bloc sent a similar message.
"I hope that whoever wins, that we will extend a hand to each other and continue working together for the good of all citizens of Montenegro," he said.
Montenegro has been deeply divided over the issue for several years, but the European Union has been heavily involved in setting the conditions for the vote, whose campaign has been free of any major incidents.
Recent opinion polls have highlighted the split, with an estimated 56 percent in favour of forming their own country.
According to EU-set rules, independence will succeed if at least half of the eligible voters turn out and 55 percent or more of them support it.
"I hope everything will be fine and we stay together," said 34-year-old Podgorica resident Savo Pejovic, adding he was afraid of "unrest among people if Montenegro separates".
A 38-year-old salesman, Slavoljub, who preferred not to reveal his surname said: "All other former Yugoslav nations have their state -- Macedonians, Bosniaks, Slovenians, Croats -- so why shouldn't Montenegro?".
Radovan, 48, said he would vote for independence for "a thousand reasons."
"We want to have our own house, to live alone. We wish the best relations with Serbia, but to be alone, it's better. Europe will easier accept us that way," he said.
Montenegro and Serbia formed in 2003 a loose union that replaced rump Yugoslavia, but either side was allowed to get out of it after a three-year probation period that expired earlier this year.
A strained relationship between Podgorica and Belgrade has gradually worsened as the government of veteran Montenegrin leader Milo Djukanovic pushed for independence.
Polling stations will close at 9:00 pm (1900 GMT) on Sunday, with pollsters expecting to offer their estimate of the outcome soon after. The official results of the referendum are not expected until Monday.
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2 comments:
I think Probably more accurate to write 'Countdown to Montenegro independence vote' or 'Countdown to Montenegro referedum' in the headline.
in my opinion, if one does not recognize the significance of Montenegro's upcoming referendum on Kosovo, then one should perhaps think a bit more inclusively about Balkan politics
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