Despite Montenegro's recent vote to become independent and end its union with Serbia, the two republics pledged on Saturday to forge the "best possible relations" as separate states.

Serbian President Boris Tadic made the pledge during his visit to Montenegro after a May 21 referendum, in which most Montenegrin voters opted for an independent state.

Tadic said that if the referendum results were confirmed, the two republics would continue to have close ties.

"Serbia is a democratic country ... we may have different positions but we respect democratic principles," he said.

The Serbian president added that he had been in favor of staying together but would recognise the will of Montenegro's citizens.

Montenegrin President Filip Vujanovic echoed Tadic's remarks, saying: "No two other states on the planet should be more open and friendly towards each other than Serbia and Montenegro."

In the referendum on May 21, a total of 55.5 percent of voters opted for an independent Montenegro, while 44.5 percent voted for the survival of the state union with Serbia.

Under conditions mediated by the European Union, Montenegro's independence will not be valid unless the referendum passes the threshold of 55 percent of votes with a turnout of at least half of the mountainous republic's 484,718 registered voters.

Serbia-Montenegro, which was renamed from the Yugoslav federal republic in February 2003, is a loose union sharing foreign affairs and defense. But the two republics have different laws, customs, currencies and border services.

Source: Xinhua