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A:
Serbia, Montenegro start negotiations on dual citizenship
Belgrade,
1 October 2008
Serbian First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Ivica Dacic and Montenegrin Minister of Interior Jusuf Kalamperovic expressed today expectations that the two countries will sign interstate agreement on dual citizenship in late October, regardless of different attitudes toward the issue.
Ivica Dacic and Jusuf Kalamperovic
Author:
Tanjug
In a statement to the press after the meeting with Kalamperovic, Dacic said that Serbia recommends that all citizens who want dual citizenship obtain it without renouncing their Serbian or Montenegrin citizenship. He added that Serbia has already made similar agreements with Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia.
He explained that the approving of dual citizenship does not mean that Serbia has political pretensions and wants to interfere in Montenegro’s internal policy. The recommendation has only been made in the interest of citizens.
According to him, Serbia’s Law on citizenship envisages that a citizen fulfills all obligations and exercises their rights at the place of their residence.
The Minister also announced that today’s negotiations on dual citizenship will continue on October 8 in Montenegro, and expressed expectations that the agreement will be reached before October 20.
Kalamperovic pointed out that Montenegro has a restrictive attitude toward dual citizenship and the issue is raised at an inconvenient moment, when the authorities in Podgorica started an initiative for Montenegro to be on the White Schengen List.
Therefore, it would be a problem for Montenegro if the country sets non-restrictive criteria for issuing Montenegrin passports.
He recalled that Montenegro has a small population comprising a lot of Serbs, Croats, Muslims and Albanians and pointed out that if the right on dual citizenship is non-restrictive, almost 55% of the population would have two passports.
According to him, other issues such as readmission, military duty and voting right are to be solved before the final resolution on dual citizenship between Serbia and Montenegro.
Kalamperovic expressed hope that the agreement will be reached and signed in late October.
He explained that the approving of dual citizenship does not mean that Serbia has political pretensions and wants to interfere in Montenegro’s internal policy. The recommendation has only been made in the interest of citizens.
According to him, Serbia’s Law on citizenship envisages that a citizen fulfills all obligations and exercises their rights at the place of their residence.
The Minister also announced that today’s negotiations on dual citizenship will continue on October 8 in Montenegro, and expressed expectations that the agreement will be reached before October 20.
Kalamperovic pointed out that Montenegro has a restrictive attitude toward dual citizenship and the issue is raised at an inconvenient moment, when the authorities in Podgorica started an initiative for Montenegro to be on the White Schengen List.
Therefore, it would be a problem for Montenegro if the country sets non-restrictive criteria for issuing Montenegrin passports.
He recalled that Montenegro has a small population comprising a lot of Serbs, Croats, Muslims and Albanians and pointed out that if the right on dual citizenship is non-restrictive, almost 55% of the population would have two passports.
According to him, other issues such as readmission, military duty and voting right are to be solved before the final resolution on dual citizenship between Serbia and Montenegro.
Kalamperovic expressed hope that the agreement will be reached and signed in late October.
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