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| The Ambassador of Serbia to Montenegro, Vladimir Bozovic. |
Serbia responded a few hours later by declaring the Montenegrin ambassador an undesirable person and expelling him from the country.
The Montenegrin Foreign Ministry considered the "continued interference in Montenegro's internal affairs" as the reason for the decision, as reported by Radio Free Europe.
A Foreign Ministry statement said Serbian Ambassador Vladimir Bozovic had "shown direct disrespect" for Montenegro, describing the 1918 decision to join the then-Serbian-dominated Kingdom as an act of "liberation" and "Free will" by Montenegrins.
The Montenegrin parliament has declared the decision invalid in 2018, saying it has stripped Montenegro of its sovereignty.
The statement said Bozovic's comments on November 27 were "inconsistent with the standards of the diplomatic office".
The Serbian Foreign Ministry has announced a reciprocal response.
"Due to the announcement of the Serbian ambassador to Montenegro, Vladimir Bozovic, as an unwanted person, the Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has acted reciprocally," the ministry said in a statement.
State media reported that Montenegrin Ambassador Tarzan Milosevic was asked to leave Serbia within 72 hours.
Montenegro continues to be deeply divided among people seeking ties to its traditional allies, Serbia and Russia, as well as those who see Montenegro as an independent, Western-linked state.
Montenegro and Serbia were part of a joint state until before the 2006 independence referendum, which resulted in the secession of Montenegro from Serbia.
The country will now be led by a pro-Serb coalition, expected to be voted on during next week's parliamentary session.