Montenegrin associations in Kosovo filed a joint initiative for consolidation of the community’s legal status in the country on Thursday.

The initiative was submitted to President Atifete Jahjaga, the speaker of the Assembly, Jakup Krasniqi, and the Prime Minister, Hashim Thaci.

Since 1999, the international community has classified Montenegrins in Kosovo as Serbs. Following the international example, Kosovo’s constitution does not mention Montenegrins as a separate ethnic community.

“Constitutional recognition of the existence of the Montenegrin community and assignment of an adequate number of reserved seats for representatives of Montenegrins in parliament would significantly contribute to improving the situation of our communities,” the initiative said.

Representatives of the Montenegrin community urged the Kosovo authorities to reformulate the initiative into a constitutional amendment and submit it to parliament. About 20,000 Montenegrins live in Kosovo.

Montenegro recognised Kosovo’s independence in October 2008 and they established diplomatic relations two years later.

But Montenegro still has only a charge d’affaires in Pristina, not an ambassador. Montenegro has said no ambassador will be sent until the demand for Montenegrins to enjoy separate minority status in Kosovo’s parliament is met.

Prime Minister Thaci said he had no objections to the demand. “From the start, we have favoured incorporation of the Montenegrin community into the constitution and this will happen,” he said in February.

“With the expected amendments, both the Montenegrin and the Croatian communities will be part of the Constitution of Kosovo,” the Prime Minister added./balkaninsight/