Serbia and Montenegro

History

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Upon the breakup of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, the remaining confederation of Serbia and Montenegro was reconstituted in 1992 as the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY). However, the United Nations and many individual states (especially the United States) had refused to recognise it as the successor of the former Yugoslavia, although they accepted it as constituting a state. This was due to the ongoing Yugoslav wars, which had prevented agreement being reached on the disposition of federal assets and liabilities, particularly the national debt. The FRY was also suspended from a number of international institutions because of its perceived role in the wars. It was finally re-admitted to the United Nations in 2000 after several years of suspension.

In 2002, Serbia and Montenegro came to a new agreement regarding continued co-operation, which, among other changes, promised the end of the name Yugoslavia. On February 4, 2003, the federal parliament of Yugoslavia created a loose commonwealth of Serbia and Montenegro called Serbia and Montenegro. A new Constitutional Charter was agreed to provide a framework for the governance of the country.

Political divisions

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Serbia and Montenegro comprises four principal political units, consisting of two republics and two subordinate provinces:

• Serbia (capital: Belgrade)
  • Vojvodina – autonomous province within Serbia (capital: Novi Sad)
• Montenegro (capital: Podgorica)
• Kosovo – province under United Nations administration (capital: Priština)

The country's political and administrative capital is Belgrade, while its judicial capital is Podgorica.

Geography

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Serbia and Montenegro covers an area of 102,350 square kilometres (39,518 sq mi), with 199 kilometres (124 mi) of coastline. The country's terrain is extremely varied, with much of Serbia comprising plains and low hills (except in the more mountainous region of Kosovo) and much of Montenegro consisting of high mountains. Serbia is entirely landlocked, with the coastline belonging to Montenegro, which also possesses the only fjord in southern Europe. The climate is similarly varied. The north has a continental climate (cold winters and hot summers); the central region has a combination of a continental and Mediterranean climate; the south enjoys an Adriatic climate along the coast, with inland regions experiencing hot, dry summers and autumns and relatively cold winters with heavy snowfall inland.

Belgrade, with its population of 1,574,050, is the country's largest and only significantly sized city. The country's other principal cities are Novi Sad, Niš, Kragujevac, Podgorica, Subotica, Priština, and Prizren, each with populations of about 100,000-250,000 people.

Demographics

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Serbia and Montenegro has more demographic variety than most other European countries. The three largest named nationalities are Serbs (62.3%), Albanians (mostly Ghegs) (16.6%) and Montenegrins (5%) according to the 1991 census. The country also has significant populations of Hungarians, Roma, Bulgarians, Macedonians, Romanians and other eastern Romance peoples (including Aromanians, Megleno-Romanians and Vlachs), and dozens of other Slavic denominations, namely Bosniaks, Croats, Bunjevci, Šokci, Goranci, Janjevci, Rusins, Slovaks, Muslims by nationality and Yugoslavs. Turkic subgroups still live in Kosovo (mostly Gagauz and Seljuks). There is a number of citizens who declare their nationality as Egyptian and Ashkali. These two were previously regarded as a part of Roma who are of the belief that they originated from present-day Egypt and Israel. Most of the ethnic diversity is situated in the provinces of Kosovo and Vojvodina, where smaller numbers of other minority groups may be found. The large Albanian population is chiefly concentrated in Kosovo, with smaller populations in the Preševo and Bujanovac municipalities in Central Serbia, and in the south-east of Montenegro (Ulcinj municipality). The large Bosniak population live in the Sandžak region on the border between Serbia and Montenegro.

Total Serbia-Montenegro - 10,019,657

• Serbia (total): 9,396,411
  • Vojvodina: 2,116,725
  • Central Serbia: 5,479,686
  • Kosovo: 1,800,000
• Montenegro: 623,246

• Major cities (over 100,000 inhabitants) - 2002 data (2003 for Podgorica):
  • Beograd (Belgrade): 1,280,639 (1,574,050 metro)
  • Novi Sad: 215,600 (298,139 metro)
  • Priština: 200,000 (2002 estimation)
  • Niš: 173,390 (234,863 metro)
  • Kragujevac: 145,890 (175,182 metro)
  • Podgorica: 139,500 (169,000 metro)
  • Prizren: 121,000 (2002 estimation)
  • Subotica: 99,471 (147,758 metro)

Economy

Template:Main Image:BanknoteYug.jpg Mismanagement of the economy, an extended period of economic sanctions, and the damage to Yugoslavia's infrastructure and industry caused by the Kosovo War have left the economy only half the size it was in 1990. Since the ousting of former Federal Yugoslav President Slobodan Milošević in October 2000, the Democratic Opposition of Serbia (DOS) coalition government has implemented stabilization measures and embarked on an aggressive market reform program. After renewing its membership in the International Monetary Fund in December 2000, Yugoslavia continued to reintegrate into the international community by rejoining the World Bank (IBRD) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). A World Bank-European Commission sponsored Donors' Conference held in June 2001 raised $1.3 billion for economic restructuring. An agreement rescheduling the country's $4.5 billion Paris Club government debts was concluded in November 2001; it will write off 66% of the debt; a similar debt relief agreement on its $2.8 billion London Club commercial debt has been reached in July 2004; 62% of the debt have been written off.

The smaller republic of Montenegro severed its economy from federal control and from Serbia during the Milošević era. Now both republics have separate central banks, different currencies - Montenegro uses the euro, while Serbia uses the Serbian dinar as official currency. The two states also have different customs tariffs, separate state budgets, police forces, governments.

The southern Serbian province of Kosovo, while formally still part of Serbia (according to United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244), is moving toward local autonomy under the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) and is dependent on the international community for financial and technical assistance. The euro and the Yugoslav dinar are official currencies, and UNMIK collects taxes and manages the budget.

The complexity of Serbia and Montenegro's political relationships, slow progress in privatisation, and stagnation in the European economy are holding back the economy. Arrangements with the IMF, especially requirements for fiscal discipline, are an important element in policy formation. Severe unemployment remains a key political economic problem. Corruption also presents a major problem, with a large black market and a high degree of criminal involvement in the formal economy.

Economy statistics: Economy of Serbia

Transportation

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Serbia, and in particular the valley of the Morava is often described as "the crossroads between the East and the West" - one of the primary reasons for its turbulent history. The valley is by far the easiest way of land travel from continental Europe to Greece and Asia Minor. Until the outbreak of the Yugoslav wars, the ironically-named Highway of Brotherhood and Unity running through Croatia, Serbia and Macedonia was one of the Europe's most important transport arteries. It is gradually resuming this role as the security situation is stabilized.

Major international highways going through Serbia are E75 and E70. E763/E761 is the most important route connecting Serbia with Montenegro.

The Danube, an important international waterway, flows through Serbia.

The largest seaport is Montenegro's Bar.

Holidays in Serbia and Montenegro

Holidays celebrated only in Serbia

• February 15 - Sretenje (National Day, non-working)

Holidays celebrated only in Montenegro

• July 13 - National Day (non-working)

Gallery

Temple of Saint Sava, Belgrade	Kalemegdan and Old Fortress in Belgrade	Pedestrian street in old town of Belgrade	Subotica
Golubac	Djerdap National Park on Danube	Petrovaradin Citadel over Danube (Novi Sad)	Niš
Millennium bridge, Podgorica	Tara river	Gulf of Kotor	Islands near Perast
Durmitor	Island near Budva

See also

• Beer in Serbia and Montenegro
• Communications in Serbia and Montenegro
• Demographics of Serbia and Montenegro
  • Demographic history of Kosovo
  • Demographic history of Vojvodina
  • Demographic history of Montenegro
• Foreign relations of Serbia and Montenegro
• Geography of Serbia and Montenegro
  • Geographical regions in Serbia and Montenegro
  • List of cities in Serbia and Montenegro
  • List of mountains in Serbia and Montenegro
• List of football clubs in Serbia and Montenegro
• Politics of Serbia and Montenegro
• Military of Serbia and Montenegro
• Music of Serbia and Montenegro
• Savez Izviđača Srbije i Crne Gore
• Serbia and Montenegro national football team

External links

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General and governmental links

• Official government site
• “Project Rastko”, the most informative site about the culture of Serbia and Montenegro
• List of official sites of administration
• Discover Montenegro – General Site about Montenegro

Other external links

• Serbia-Montenegro and the Balkans – Discussion Forum
• Burek Forum – The Biggest forum in Serbia and Montenegro
• Foundation Rastko-Boka News