Montenegro moves towards referendum

PODGORICA, Yugoslavia, (Reuters) -- Montenegrin political parties agreed to hold early parliamentary elections expected to trigger calls for a referendum on whether to leave Yugoslavia.

Under a compromise agreement between six of seven parties in parliament, the assembly will hold a session next Wednesday to end its term, which had not been due to expire until May 2002.

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The election is expected to take place on April 22.

Moves for independence have been resisted by Montenegro's larger partner in the Yugoslav republic, Serbia.

"The agreement has been reached to hold the parliament session on January 31," parliament speaker Svetozar Marovic said.

The decision comes after more than two weeks of negotiations between a pro independence bloc led by Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic and their opponents who wish to keep Montenegro together with Serbia in a looser Yugoslav federation.

The outgoing parliament is set to adopt legislation needed for a referendum at its last session, and the new assembly will decide on a date to be proposed by Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic.

A Montenegrin opinion poll by Damar on Wednesday showed 55.6 percent of those polled would opt for outright independence while 44.4 percent would vote against.

The agreement on holding early elections was reached hours after Djukanovic's Democratic Party of Socialists accused their foes in the Socialist People's Party (SNP) of misinterpreting the European Union's stand on the future of Yugoslavia.

EU foreign ministers said in Brussels on Monday that Serbia and Montenegro had to decide on a new constitutional arrangement within an overall federal framework -- seen as a clear signal for Montenegro's Government to drop its demand for independence.

The EU statement prompted immediate criticism in the coastal republic of only 650,000 people, with government officials criticising the 15-nation bloc for siding with Serbia.

'Divorce-then-remarriage'

Djukanovic wants Montenegro to break away from the existing federation so it can immediately create a new, much looser one.

Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica and his Serbian backers in the 18-party DOS reform alliance have ruled out this "divorce-and-remarriage" idea, instead offering a reformed federation.

Kostunica and Djukanovic failed to bridge their differences when they met in Belgrade last week.

Serbian Prime Minister-designate Zoran Djindjic said in an interview published on Wednesday that the Yugoslav federation should be given a three-year trial period.

If, over this period things between the two republics did not work out, Djindjic said Serbia and Montenegro should separate.

The SNP, the main opposition party in Montenegro, said it was considering creating a pro-Yugoslavia bloc of parties for the upcoming election.

"Should Djukanovic decide to create a bloc of pro-Montenegro parties we will respond adequately," SNP vice-president Predrag Bulatovic said.

Reuters contributed to this report.