Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that Moscow regrets the Montenegrin authorities’ refusal to hold a referendum on the country’s accession to NATO.
"Montenegro’s accession to NATO is in full swing, but no one asks the opinion of the Montenegrins," she noted. The diplomat noted that this country’s residents are in favor of holding such a referendum, as this is "an important step, which will not remain without consequences in the international arena."
On May 19, the foreign ministers of NATO member states signed an accession protocol for Montenegro, granting the Balkan country observer status at alliance meetings. Montenegro will be granted membership to the alliance once the protocol is ratified by all 28 NATO member states.
Russia has warned that the negotiations over Montenegro's NATO membership will harm Eurasian and Atlantic security systems, as well as relations between Russia and the alliance.
