(ANSA) - POGDORICA - In Montenegro, 47.3% of citizens back their country's adhesion to NATO while 37% are against and 15.6% have no opinion on the matter, according to a survey carried out by Damar agency from January 19 until January 24 on a sample of 1,100 people who were interviewed across 10 areas of the country. Montenegro - which has been independent since 2006 - was invited by NATO at the beginning of December last year to join the alliance. The step prompted a harsh reaction from Russia, which opposes a progressive expansion of the Atlantic Alliance towards the East and its borders. The start of talks to formalize Montenegro's full membership was announced for mid-February. According to the Slovenian ambassador to NATO, Jelko Kacin, who gave an interview to Podgorica-daily Podjeda published on Tuesday, negotiations could last between one and three months. (ANSA).