Pressure mounts to release Union funds for Montenegro

Date: 04/05/2000

By Simon Taylor

THE EU has moved a step closer towards providing financial aid to defend Montenegro against Slobodan Milosevic's attempts to destabilise it.

Officials say the chances of breaking the deadlock over the move have improved after the Commission outlined options for delivering the aid at this week's meeting of Union ambassadors. Finance ministers will be under intense pressure from their foreign ministry counterparts to release around €35 million to help President Milo Djukanovic's pro-western government survive the trade sanctions imposed by Milosevic when they discuss the plan next week.

EU leaders have warned that unless aid reaches Montenegro soon, there could be another serious crisis in the region. This has prompted speculation that NATO powers would have to intervene militarily to support Djukanovic if Milosevic used his armed forces to destabilised the government further. Milosevic has been exerting severe pressure on Podgorica since it took a pro-NATO line during the Kosovo campaign.

But finance ministers have so far refused to release the funds, insisting the Union can only provide aid to independent states and Montenegro is still part of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. However, critics say the EU is not legally bound to abide by this condition.

Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana warned recently that the government could be toppled in forthcoming elections if the aid did not arrive soon. "Financial support after mid-June may be good news but too late if the government in Podgorica experiences an electoral defeat," he said.

The EU has moved a step closer towards providing financial aid to defend Montenegro against Slobodan Milosevic's attempts to destabilise it.