Montenegro Project

Project Description

The Public International Law & Policy Group has provided legal assistance to the government of Montenegro on numerous issues relating to its secession from the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, including participating as members of the delegation negotiating the Union Treaty with Serbia.

Union Treaty Negotiations with Serbia.  The Public International Law & Policy Group provided legal counsel to Montenegro during its negotiations with the Republic of Serbia over the future status of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Two members of PILPG were resident in Podgorica and traveled with the Montenegrin delegation to Belgrade for the constitutional negotiations. 

State Secession/Referendum.  The Public International Law & Policy Group provided extensive legal analysis of issues relating to the holding of a referendum leading up to the referendum on independence held on May 21, 2006.  Some of the issues covered include residency requirement for voting in a referendum, voting threshold requirements, wording of the question, international law and the process of secession, and the constitutional process for achieving independence.  In addition, the Public International Law & Policy Group submitted an amicus brief to the Venice Commission providing comments on the draft opinion of the Venice Commission’s 2005 opinion on Montenegro’s Referendum Law and supporting Montenegro’s residency and quorum requirements.

State Succession.  Following the successful referendum, the Public International Law & Policy Group assisted Montenegro with legal aspects of succession, including declaring independence and seeking international recognition, gaining membership in international organizations, allocating debts and assets, and succeeding to bilateral and multilateral treaties.

Post-Conflict Constitution.  The Public International Law & Policy Group has also provided Montenegro with assistance in drafting a new constitution.

Publications and Op-eds

“Going Backward In the Balkans,” Morton I. Abramawitz, The Washington Post (March 19, 2004).
 
“Can the EU Hack the Balkans?,” Morton I. Abramowitz, The Washington Post (September 1, 2002).
 
“Let the Montenegrins Have Their Say,” Morton I. Abramawitz, International Herald Tribune (December 31, 2001).
 
“Current Legal Status of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) and of Serbia and Montenegro,” International Crisis Group (September 19, 2000).

Media Appearances

To promote an understanding of the legal aspects of the various issues facing Montenegro, representatives from PILPG provide frequent media commentary and interviews to the Montenegrin print and broadcast media.

PILPG members have also been interviewed on the situation in Montenegro by major U.S. print and broadcast media.  These interviews include: 

“Montenegro: Hotspot in the making?,” James Hooper on CNN (2000).

“Dissension in Serbia,” James Hooper on The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer (July 9, 1999).

“Montenegro/Fears by Douglas Roberts,” James Hooper on Voice of America (November 12, 1998).

Pictures from the Field

Project Team

Julia Rieper, Senior Research Associate
Ryan Vogel, Senior Research Associate

Lauren Baillie, Research Associate
Nathan Borgford-Parnell, Research Associate
Craig Saperstein, Research Associate
Scott Simpson, Research Associate


Advisory Council

Dan McNamee
Hae Jung Moon
James Newton
Vanessa Jimenez
Francesca Jannotti Pecci
Samantha Thomas
Emily Nugent
Casandra Tillinghast
Elizabeth “Ellee” Walker (former Project Director)