Montenegrins in Serbia Push Language Recognition

The Montenegrin Party had previously requested that the municipalities of Kula and Vrbas introduce the Montenegrin language in official use.

The Ministry asked the municipalities to comment on the proposal of the party, which was submitted to the local governments almost a year and a half ago.

The Minority Ministry has asked the Bureau of Statistics to provide data on the total number and ethnic structure of the population of the municipalities of Kula and Vrbas from the most recent census and the census conducted in 2002.

"After obtaining these documents, the authorities will comply with their legal obligations," the municipalities said in a letter to the Ministry, which Beta news agency obtained.

Both Vrbas and Kula have significant populations of ethnic Montenegrins.

Montenegro declared its independence in 2006 after leaving a state union with Serbia, and the country has gradually been promoting a unique Montenegrin language.