| Happy birthday Montenegro! |
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 Montenegrins held their collective breath and waited for the independence referendum ballots to be counted on the 21st of May, two years ago. For five years nationalists had patiently waited for the international political community, particularly the European Union, to give them the go ahead to conduct a referendum on independence from the union of Serbia and Montenegro.Montenegro’s Serbs, a sizable minority, were confident that voters would choose to maintain the status quo. The three days that preceded the vote became a de facto holiday as Montenegrins welcomed the country’s diaspora back for the crucial vote. Cafes, restaurants and bars around the country were constantly packed and the air was filled with boisterous debates and nervous laughter. The international community looked on and wondered if it was about to witness the birth of a nation in the Balkans, an area long known to politicos as, “the powder keg of Europe.” Political instability is not only bad for social cohesion but also for commerce. If Montenegrins voted for independence, desperately needed investment money would surely pour into the sovereign state from the West. Serbia, naturally, hoped Montenegrins would stay the course but its biggest ally, Russia, although sympathetic to the regional power, was pragmatic about the referendum stating that it would respect the wishes of voters. Adding to the drama was the fact that a simple 50% +1 majority would not win the ballot for nationalists. If Montenegro was to become the world’s newest nation, 55% or more of its citizens would have to vote to dissolve the union with Serbia. Final voter turnout was reported at 86.5% and the nationalists carried the ballot with 55.5% of votes. The tightest of victories had been won by the nationalist forces and celebrations erupted across the land. The first country to officially recognise Montenegro was Iceland and on May 23 the preliminary referendum results were recognised by all five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, including Russia, indicating widespread international recognition of Montenegro as a sovereign state. Montenegro’s second birthday will be marked by the official inauguration of President Filip Vujanović, who was returned to the post in the April 7 election, at his official residence in Cetinje, on May 20. The following day there will be a celebration of the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Grahovac, at the Royal Theatre in Cetinje, which will be followed by a reception hosted by Prime Minister Milo Djukanović.
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