Related: Serbia-Montenegro president to resign after referendum

    VIENNA, May 23 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) on Tuesday urged Serbia and Montenegro to launch a direct dialogue on their future relations after Montenegro voted for independence from the state union of Serbia-Montenegro in a recent referendum.

    In a statement issued by Austria, which currently holds the rotating EU presidency, the EU welcomed "the successful organization of the referendum on the independence of Montenegro last Sunday."

    The EU called on all sides concerned to accept the result, so as to respect the option of the people of Montenegro.

    Furthermore, the EU urged Serbia and Montenegro to take up "as rapidly as possible" a direct dialogue on the way ahead, which would be supported by the EU.

    In the Sunday referendum, 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 EU, 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 with only limited ministries of foreign affairs, defense and human rights. The two republics have different laws, customs, currencies and border services. Enditem