Serbia and Montenegro

I

Introduction

Serbia and Montenegro, former federal republic located in south-eastern Europe in the Balkan Peninsula, and comprising the republics of Serbia and Montenegro, and the formerly autonomous provinces of Kosovo (though technically this remains under UN protection) and Vojvodina, located within Serbia. Serbia and Montenegro, formerly known (until February 2003) as the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia or FRY, was bordered on the north by Hungary, on the east by Romania and Bulgaria, on the south by the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) and Albania, and on the west by the Adriatic Sea, Croatia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The FRY was formed in the aftermath of the breakup of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY). Four of the six constituent republics of the SFRY seceded following the collapse of Communism in Eastern Europe: Croatia, Slovenia, and FYROM in 1991; and Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1992.

On April 27, 1992, the republics of Serbia and Montenegro announced the formation of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, which they declared to be the legal successor of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The move was a de facto recognition of the secession of the four other republics, all of whose independence has now been recognized by the international community. Later, on September 22, the United Nations General Assembly voted by 127 to 6 (with 26 abstentions) that it could not automatically assume the seat of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, and excluded it from the General Assembly, although it was, however, given the option of reapplying for membership in its own right. The international community overwhelmingly followed the lead of the United Nations (UN) (see History below). The UN then termed the federation the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro). In a further move in March 2002, Yugoslav, Montenegrin, and Serbian leaders signed an EU-mediated accord to provide for the setting up of a new state called “Serbia and Montenegro” to replace Yugoslavia. The deal also envisaged two semi-independent states in charge of their own economies. In February 2003 “Yugoslavia” was finally voted out of existence and replaced with the state, Serbia and Montenegro. The arrangement remained in place for three years but Montenegrin demands for independence led to a referendum on May 21, 2006, which resulted in 55.5 per cent of the population voting in favour of independence from Serbia. Montenegro declared its independence on June 3, 2006 and Serbia followed suit two days later.

Serbia and Montenegro’s total land area, 88,361 sq km (34,116 sq mi), was less than half the size of the former Yugoslavia. The Republic of Serbia, the dominant member of the former union, is much larger and more populous than Montenegro.

II

Land and Resources

The region covered by the former Serbia and Montenegro has a diverse landscape. Serbia, which lies to the north and east, accounted for 86 per cent of the land area of the country. Rich and fertile plains comprise much of the north, while limestone ranges and basins characterize the east. In the south-east ancient mountains and hills rise up from the plains, while a 199 km (119.4 mi) coastline on the Adriatic Sea forms the south-west boundary, where the Republic of Montenegro is located.

A

Rivers and Lakes

The Drava, Sava, and Tisza rivers flow through the region, as does the Danube. The largest lake is Lake Scutari, which straddles the border between Montenegro and Albania.

B

Climate

The region has a varied climate. The north has a continental climate with cold winters and hot, humid, rainy summers. The central region is characterized by both continental and Mediterranean climates, while the south has a Mediterranean climate along the coast with hot, dry summers and relatively cold winters with heavy snowfall inland.