By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
The Serbian government on Thursday recognized newly independent Montenegro, and said it would establish diplomatic ties with its former partner in the now-defunct Serbia-Montenegro union.
In a statement, the Serbian government said that the decision to recognize Montenegro as an independent state follows the declaration of independence by the Montenegran parliament earlier this month.
In Podgorica, the Montenegrin leaders hailed the Serbian government move.
Montenegro declared independence from Serbia on June 3, after its citizens supported the split by a slim margin at a May 21 referendum.