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rfmcdonaldThe Post-Chronicle was one of many news sources that carried this happy news.
Montenegro's declaration of war against Japan was one product of this country's long tradition of Russophilia, this Russophilia stemming from tsarist Russia's support of the Orthodox Christian Slavs of the Balkans--particularly the Serbs--against the declining Ottoman Empire. Montenegro's final emergence as a sovereign state during the belle époque owed much to Russian financial and military support.
After some reluctance to support Montenegro's separation from post-Yugoslav Serbia several years ago, Russia since came around to support an independent Montenegro as a state that provided useful opportunities for Russians, particularly from the perspectives of tourism and banking. It might not be too inaccurate to say that, in the Russian imagination, Montenegro is not entirely dissimilar from Cyprus. (As an aside, it's worth noting that Montenegro's relationship with Japan has a chance to develop de novo from an interesting start.)
Montenegro says Japan has recognized the Balkan country as an independent state, ending more than 100 years of a state of war.
Akiko Yamanaka, Japan's deputy foreign minister and the prime minister's special envoy is scheduled to arrive in Podgorica next week to deliver a letter to Montenegrin officials declaring the war is over and Tokyo recognizes Montenegro as an independent state, Belgrade's B92 radio reported Friday.
The countries have been in a technical state of war since the 1904-05 Russo-Japan War and Montenegro sided with Russia. A local historian told B92 that Montenegro's participation in the war was symbolic.
On May 21, Montenegro voted to secede from its union with Serbia and since then has been recognized as independent state by the United States, Russia, China and many other countries.
Montenegro's declaration of war against Japan was one product of this country's long tradition of Russophilia, this Russophilia stemming from tsarist Russia's support of the Orthodox Christian Slavs of the Balkans--particularly the Serbs--against the declining Ottoman Empire. Montenegro's final emergence as a sovereign state during the belle époque owed much to Russian financial and military support.
After some reluctance to support Montenegro's separation from post-Yugoslav Serbia several years ago, Russia since came around to support an independent Montenegro as a state that provided useful opportunities for Russians, particularly from the perspectives of tourism and banking. It might not be too inaccurate to say that, in the Russian imagination, Montenegro is not entirely dissimilar from Cyprus. (As an aside, it's worth noting that Montenegro's relationship with Japan has a chance to develop de novo from an interesting start.)
