| Serbia and Montenegro (Serbian:
Србија и Црна Гора / Srbija i Crna
Gora, often abbreviated as "SCG") is the name of the union of Serbia and Montenegro, two former Yugoslav republics united since 2003 in a
loose confederation. It is located on the west-central Balkan Peninsula.
Serbia and Montenegro cooperate in only some political fields (e.g. through a defence union). The states have their own
economic policies and currencies. The country does not have a unified capital any more, dividing its common institutions between
Belgrade in Serbia and Podgorica in
Montenegro. Each of the two states may seek full independence via a referendum,
which can be held in 2006 at the earliest.
History
Main articles: History of Serbia
and Montenegro, History of Yugoslavia
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
Main article: Internal structure of Serbia and Montenegro
Serbia and Montenegro comprises four principal political units, consisting of two republics and two subordinate provinces:
The country's political and administrative capital is Belgrade, while its judicial capital is Podgorica.
Geography
Main article: Geography of
Serbia and Montenegro
Serbia and Montenegro covers an area of 102,350 sq km, with 199 km 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.
The country's biggest city by far is Belgrade, with a population of 1,711,800.
No other city is anywhere near the same size; the country's other largest cities are Novi Sad, Nis, Kragujevac
and Podgorica, each with populations of about 140,000-180,000 people.
Demographics
Main article: Demographics of Serbia and Montenegro
Serbia and Montenegro has more demographic variety than any other region of the former Yugoslavia. Its three largest ethnic
groups are Serbs (62.6%), Albanians
(16.5%) and Montenegrins (5%). The country also has significant populations
of Croats, Hungarians, Romanians, Roma and Slovaks, mostly concentrated in the northern province of Vojvodina,
as well as smaller numbers of other minority groups. The large Albanian population is chiefly concentrated in Kosovo, with
smaller populations around Presevo in Serbia proper and in the south-east of
Montenegro.
Economy
Main article: Economy of Serbia
and Montenegro
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 Milosevic 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 Milosevic 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 privatization, 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.
Transportation
Main article: Transportation in Serbia and Montenegro
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 sea harbour is Montenegro's Bar.
Holidays in Serbia
* Dates in 2005 only
Geography of Serbia and
Montenegro
Foreign
relations of Serbia and Montenegro
Beer in Serbia and Montenegro
Music of Serbia and Montenegro
List
of football clubs in Serbia and Montenegro
Serbia and
Montenegro national football team
External links
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