We, the members of the Montenegrin World Association, which has its 
organizations in 17 countries in North America, Europe and Australia, are 
deeply dismayed that Dr Javier Solana, the High Representative of the EU, 
has unfortunately decided to join efforts with Greater Serbian political 
forces in Belgrade and Podgorica in their opposition to Montenegro's right 
of self-determination. The EU risks undermining and jeopardizing 
Montenegro's stability and security. We find it truly bizarre and 
incomprehensible that while Slobodan Milosevic is on trial in the Hague, 
the EU finds common cause with his followers in Podgorica and Belgrade. The 
serious deterioration of the political situation in Montenegro in January 
2002 was a direct consequence of this alliance. The EU's one-sided and 
irresponsible policy encourages extremists to escalate the situation and 
strengthens the hand of those political factions which threaten the use of 
violence.

The EU's insistence on the preservation of the so-called FRY ignores the 
fact that FRY exists in name only. It was Serbia, not Montenegro, which 
destroyed this always problematic state through a cascade of unilateral and 
violent acts in the last decade. Consequently, there is almost nothing 
remaining between Montenegro and Serbia today that can be preserved or even 
broken. The pro-Yugoslav rhetoric of the EU and its allies is truly hollow. 
Most importantly, what will happen to our structural economic reform 
program recently praised by the IMF and World Bank if the pro-Federation 
forces take over as a result of the EU "mediation" effort? What will happen 
if we relinquish the Euro as Montenegro's currency and reintroduce the most 
worthless currency in Europe (the dinar) back into our country? And what 
will happen to our first but extremely important achievements in the domain 
of multi-ethnic tolerance and democracy if the so-called pro-Yugoslav 
forces legitimize their Greater Serbian project with the support of EU?

Fortunately, there is still a chance to prevent further negative 
developments. With this aim in mind, we appeal to you for necessary 
international understanding, solidarity, and support. First, we call for an 
immediate and total end and change of the current EU realpolitik, which is 
deeply wrong and painful for Montenegro, and potentially damaging and 
dangerous for the region. After that, we call for international support for 
a free and democratic referendum on our country's future status. Such a 
referendum is the only way out of the current unsustainable political 
impasse. It is the duty of the European Union to press all political 
factions in Montenegro to participate fully in the democratic process, so 
that the final decision will enjoy unquestionable legitimacy.

Montenegrin World Association Members:
1. Montenegrin Independent Cultural Center - New York, USA
2. Cultural Center "Rumija" - Chicago, USA
3. Montenegrin Association of America - San Francisco, USA
4. Montenegrin Cultural Society - Toronto, Canada
5. Montenegrin Ethnic Association of Australia - Sidney, Australia
6. Montenegrin Association of Europe - Frankfurt, Germany
7. National Montenegrin Association of Croatia - Zagreb, Croatia