Serbia and Montenegro
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{{Infobox Former Country
|native_name = Државна заједница Србија и Црна Гора<br>''Državna zajednica Srbija i Crna Gora''
|conventional_long_name = State Union of Serbia and Montenegro
|common_name = Serbia and Montenegro
|continent = Europe
|status= State union
|region = Balkans
|era= Post-Cold War
|event_start= [[Constitutional Charter of Serbia and Montenegro|Established]]
|year_start = 2003
|year_end = 2006
|date_start= February 4
|date_end= June 5
|event_pre= [[United Nations member states|UN membership]]¹
|date_pre= [[November 1]], [[2000]]
|p1 = Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
|flag_p1 = Flag of FR Yugoslavia.svg
|s1 = Serbia
|flag_s1 = Flag of Serbia.svg
|s2 = Montenegro
|flag_s2 = Flag of Montenegro.svg
|image_flag = Flag of Serbia and Montenegro.svg
|image_coat = Coat of arms of Serbia and Montenegro.svg
|image_map = Europe location SCG.png
| national_anthem = "''[[Hey, Slavs]]''"
|common_languages = [[Serbian language|Serbian]]
|capital = [[Belgrade]]
|stat_area1 = 102350
|stat_pop1 = 10832545
|stat_year1 = 2006
|currency = [[Serbian dinar]], [[Euro]]
|footnotes=¹Membership as [[Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|FRY]]<br>[[ISO 3166-1]]=CS, [[ISO 3166-3]]=CSXX<br>International calling code = 381, UTC offset = +1
}}
The State Union of '''Serbia and Montenegro''' ({{lang-sr|Државна заједница '''Србија и Црна Гора''' / Državna zajednica '''Srbija i Crna Gora'''}}, abbreviated as СЦГ / ''SCG''), was a [[Political union|union]] of '''[[Serbia]]''' and '''[[Montenegro]]''', which existed between 2003 and 2006. The two republics, both of which are former republics of the [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|SFR Yugoslavia]], initially formed the [[Federal Republic of Yugoslavia]] in 1992. In 2003, the FRY was reconstituted as a State Union Serbia and Montenegro.
On [[May 21]], [[2006]], Montenegro held [[Montenegrin independence referendum, 2006|a referendum to seek full independence]]. Final official results indicated on [[May 31]] that 55.5% of voters had elected to become independent. The state union effectively came to an end after Montenegro's formal declaration of independence on [[June 3]], [[2006]] and Serbia's formal declaration of independence on [[June 5]]. Many view this as symbolizing the final end of what was left from the former [[Yugoslavia]].
A loose confederation, Serbia and Montenegro were united only in certain political areas (e.g. defense). The republics had functioned separately throughout the period of the [[FR Yugoslavia|Federal Republic]], and had continued to have individual economic policies as well as using separate currencies (the Euro was the only legal tender in Montenegro).
== History ==
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, since they were part of the [[Federal Republic of Yugoslavia]]. On [[February 4]], [[2003]], the [[Parliament of Serbia and Montenegro|federal parliament of Yugoslavia]] created a loose [[confederation]] - State Union of Serbia and Montenegro. A new [[Constitutional Charter of Serbia and Montenegro|Constitutional Charter]] was agreed to provide a framework for the governance of the country.
On Sunday, [[21 May]] [[2006]], [[Montenegrins]] voted on an independence referendum, with 55.5% supporting independence. Fifty-five percent or more of affirmative votes were needed to dissolve the state union of Serbia and Montenegro. The turnout was 86.3% and 99.73% of the more than 477,000 votes cast were deemed valid.
The subsequent Montenegrin proclamation of independence on [[June 3]], [[2006]] and the Serbian proclamation of independence on [[June 5]] ended the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro and thus the last remaining vestiges of the former [[Yugoslavia]].
== Administrative divisions ==
{{main|Subdivisions of Serbia and Montenegro}}
Serbia and Montenegro was composed of two republics, Montenegro and Serbia:<br>
[[Image:Flag of Serbia.svg|border|150px]]
*[[Republic of Serbia (federal)|Serbia]] (capital: [[Belgrade]])
** [[Vojvodina]] – autonomous province within Serbia (capital: [[Novi Sad]])
** [[Kosovo and Metohija]] – autonomous province within Serbia under [[United Nations]] administration (capital: [[Priština]])
[[Image:Flag_of_Montenegro.svg|150px]]
* [[Republic of Montenegro (federal)|Montenegro]] (capital: [[Podgorica]])
The country's political and administrative capital was [[Belgrade]], while its judicial capital was [[Podgorica]].
The territorial organization of the [[Republic of Serbia (federal)|Republic of Serbia]] is regulated by the Law on Territorial Organization and Local Self-Government, adopted in the [[Assembly of Serbia]] on 24 July 1991. Under the Law, the municipalities, cities and settlements make the bases of the territorial organization.
{{History of Serbia}}
'''[[Republic of Serbia (federal)|Serbia]]''' is divided into 195 municipalities and 4 cities, which are the basic units of local autonomy. It has two autonomous provinces: [[Kosovo and Metohija]] in the south (with 30 municipalities), which is presently under the administration of the United Nations, and [[Vojvodina]] in the north (with 46 municipalities). The part of [[Republic of Serbia (federal)|Serbia]] that is neither in [[Kosovo]] nor in [[Vojvodina]] is called Central Serbia. Central Serbia is not an administrative division (unlike the two autonomous provinces), and it has no regional government of its own.
In addition, there are four cities (gradovi): [[Belgrade]], [[Niš]], [[Novi Sad]] and [[Kragujevac]], each having an assembly and budget of its own. The cities comprise several municipalities, divided into "urban" (in the city proper) and "other" (suburban). Competences of cities and their municipalities are divided. Of those, only [[Novi Sad]] did not undergo the full transformation, as the newly formed municipality of Petrovaradin exists pretty much only formally; thus, the municipality of [[Novi Sad]] is largely equated to city of [[Novi Sad]] (and the single largest municipality in the country, with around 300,000 residents).
Municipalities are gathered into districts (okruzi), which are regional centers of state authority, but have no assemblies of their own; they present purely administrative divisions, and host various state institutions such as funds, office branches and courts. The [[Republic of Serbia]] is divided into 29 districts (17 in Central Serbia, 7 in Vojvodina and 5 in Kosovo, which are now defunct), while the city of [[Belgrade]] presents a district of its own.
'''[[Republic of Montenegro (federal)|Montenegro]]''' has 21 municipalities (Општина, opština), and two urban municipalities (градска општина, gradska opština), subdivisions of [[Podgorica]] municipality.
== Geography ==
[[Image:yugoslaviamap.png|left|thumb|200px|Map of Serbia-Montenegro]]
{{main|Geography of Serbia and Montenegro}}
Serbia and Montenegro had an area of 102,350 square kilometres (39,518 [[square mile|sq mi]]), with 199 kilometres (124 [[mile|mi]]) of coastline. The terrain of the two [[republic]]s is extremely varied, with much of Serbia comprising plains and low hills (except in the more mountainous region of Kosovo and Metohija) and much of Montenegro consisting of high mountains. Serbia is entirely landlocked, with the coastline belonging to Montenegro, which also possessed 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 climate|continental]] and [[Mediterranean climate]]; the southern region had 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 largest city in the two nations: and the only one of significant size. The country's other principal cities were [[Novi Sad]], [[Niš]], [[Kragujevac]], [[Podgorica]], [[Subotica]], [[Priština]], and [[Prizren]], each with populations of about 100,000-250,000 people.
== Demographics ==
{{main|Demographics of Serbia and Montenegro}}
Serbia and Montenegro had more demographic variety than most other European countries. The three largest named nationalities were [[Serbs]] (62.3%), [[Albanians]] (mostly Ghegs) (16.6%) and [[Montenegrins]] (5%) according to the 1991 census. The country also had significant populations of [[Hungarians]], [[Roma people|Roma]], [[Bulgarians]], [[Macedonians (ethnic group)|Ethnic Macedonians]], [[Romanians]] and other eastern Romance peoples (including [[Aromanians]], [[Megleno-Romanians]] and [[Vlachs of Serbia|Vlachs]]), plus dozens of other [[Slavic peoples]], namely [[Bosniaks]], [[Croats]], [[Bunjevci]], [[Šokci]], [[Gorani (Kosovo)|Goranci]], [[Janjevci]], [[Rusins]], [[Slovaks]], [[Muslims by nationality]] and [[Yugoslavs]]. [[Turkic peoples|Turkic]] subgroups still live in [[Kosovo]] (mostly [[Gagauz]] and [[Seljuks]]). There were a number of citizens who declared their nationality as [[Egyptians (Kosovo)|Egyptian]] and [[Ashkali]]. These two were previously regarded as a part of [[roma people|Roma]] who are of the belief that they originated from present-day [[Egypt]] and [[Israel]]. Most of the ethnic diversity was situated in the provinces of [[Kosovo]] and [[Vojvodina]], where smaller numbers of other minority groups may have be found. The large [[Albania|Albanian]] population was 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 [[Bosniaks|Bosniak]] population lived in the [[Sandžak]] region on the border between [[Republic of Serbia (federal)|Serbia]] and [[Republic of Montenegro (federal)|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)
According to an estimate from 2004, the State Union had 10,825,900 inhabitants.
According to a July of 2006 estimate, the State Union had 10,832,545 inhabitants.
== Economy ==
{{main|Economy of Serbia and Montenegro}}
An extended period of economic sanctions, and the damage to [[Yugoslavia]]'s infrastructure and industry caused by the [[Kosovo War]] left the economy only half the size it was in 1990. Since the ousting of former [[Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|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 [[Republic of Montenegro (federal)|Montenegro]] severed its economy from federal control and from Serbia during the [[Milošević era]]. During the Serbia and Montenegro period, both republics had separate central banks, different currencies - Montenegro used the [[euro]], while Serbia used the [[Serbian dinar]] as official currency. The two states also had different customs tariffs, separate state budgets, police forces, and governments.
The southern Serbian province of [[Kosovo]], while formally still part of Serbia (according to United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244), moved toward local autonomy under the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in [[Kosovo]] ([[United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo|UNMIK]]) and was dependent on the international community for financial and technical assistance. The [[euro]] and the [[Yugoslav dinar]] were official currencies, and UNMIK collected taxes and managed the budget.
The complexity of Serbia and Montenegro's political relationships, slow progress in privatisation, and stagnation in the European economy were detrimental to the economy. Arrangements with the IMF, especially requirements for fiscal discipline, were an important element in policy formation. Severe unemployment was a key political economic problem. Corruption also presented a major problem, with a large [[black market]] and a high degree of criminal involvement in the formal economy.
== Transportation ==
{{Expand|date=February 2007}}
{{See also|Transport in Serbia and Montenegro}}
Serbia, and in particular the valley of the [[Morava River, Serbia|Morava]] is often described as "the crossroads between the [[Eastern world|East]] and the [[Western world|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 "Bratstvo i jedinstvo"]] (Brotherhood and Unity) running through Croatia, Serbia and the Republic of Macedonia was one of Europe's most important transport arteries. It gradually resumed this role as the security situation stabilized.
Major [[European route|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, Montenegro|Bar]].
==Holidays in Serbia and Montenegro ==
{| class="wikitable"
|+<big>'''Holidays'''</big>
|-
! style="background: #efefef; border-bottom: 2px solid gray;" | Date
! style="background: #efefef; border-bottom: 2px solid gray;" | Name
! style="background: #efefef; border-bottom: 2px solid gray;" | Notes
|-
| [[January 1]]
| [[New Year's Day]]
| (non-working holiday)
|-
| [[January 7]]
| [[Eastern Orthodox|Orthodox]] [[Christmas]]
| (non-working)
|-
| [[January 27]]
| [[Saint Sava]]'s feast Day — Day of Spirituality
|
|-
| [[April 27]]
| [[Constitution Day]]
|
|-
| [[April 29]]
| Orthodox [[Good Friday]]
| Date for 2005 only
|-
| [[May 1]]
| Orthodox [[Easter]]
| Date for 2005 only
|-
| [[May 2]]
| Orthodox [[Easter Monday]]
| Date for 2005 only
|-
| [[May 1]]
| [[Labour Day]]
| (non-working)
|-
| [[May 9]]
| [[Victory Day]]
|
|-
| [[June 28]]
| [[Vidovdan]] ([[Martyr]]'s Day)
| In memory of soldiers fallen at the [[Battle of Kosovo]]
|}
;Holidays celebrated only in Serbia
*[[February 15]] - Sretenje ([[National Day]], non-working)
;Holidays celebrated only in Montenegro
*[[July 13]] - Statehood Day (non-working)
== Proposed Flag & Anthem ==
[[Image:Proposed_Flag_of_Serbia_and_Montenegro_2003.svg|thumb|left|180px|2003 proposed flag for Serbia and Montenegro.]]
After the formation of Serbia and Montenegro, the Yugoslav tricolour was to be replaced by a new compromise flag. Article 23 of the Law for the implementation of the Constitutional Charter [[http://www.ssinf.sv.gov.yu/default.php?id=87&je=]] stated that a law specifying the new flag was to be passed within 60 days of the first session of the new joint parliament. Among the flag proposals, the popular choice was a flag with a shade of blue in between the Serbian tricolour and the Montenegrin tricolour of 1993-2004. The colour shade Pantone 300 C was perceived as the best choice. [[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3170416.stm]] However the parliament failed to vote on the proposal within the legal timeframe and the flag was not adopted. In 2004, Montenegro adopted a radically different flag, as its independence-leaning government sought to distance itself from Serbia. Proposals for a compromise flag were dropped after this and the Union of Serbia & Montenegro never adopted a flag.
A similar fate befell the country's anthem and coat-of-arms to be; the above-mentioned Article 23 also stipulated that a law determining the State Union's flag and anthem was to be passed by the end of 2003. The official proposal for an anthem was a combination piece consisting of one verse of the Serbian anthem "[[Bože pravde]]" followed by a verse of the Montenegrin anthem, "[[Oj, svijetla majska zoro]]". This proposal was dropped after some public opposition, notably by Serbian Patriarch [[Pavle, Patriarch of Serbia|Pavle]]. [[http://www.vreme.com/cms/view.php?id=387870]] Another legal deadline passed and no anthem was adopted. Serious proposals for the coat of arms were never put forward, probably because the coat of arms of the [[FRY]], adopted in 1994 combining Serbian and Montenegrin heraldic elements, was considered adequate.
Thus, the State Union never officially adopted state symbols and continued to use the flag, arms and anthem of the [[Federal Republic of Yugoslavia]] by inertia until its dissolution in 2006.
==Sports and contests ==
Serbia and Montenegro were represented by [[Serbia and Montenegro national football team|a single football team]] in the [[2006 FIFA World Cup]] tournament, despite having formally split just weeks prior to its start. Following this event, this team has been inherited by Serbia, while a [[Montenegro national football team|new one]] was to be organized to represent Montenegro in future international competitions. Their most notable player is [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] [[Defender (association football)|defender]] [[Nemanja Vidić]], who is Serbian.
They were represented by a single team in the [[Basketball World Championship 2006]] as well. This team was also inherited by Serbia after the tournament, while Montenegro created a separate national basketball team afterwards, as well as the national teams of all other team sports.
The two countries were represented in the [[Miss Earth 2006]] pageant by a single delegate, [[Dubravka Skoric]]. It is unknown if the two countries would field two different candidates in the pageant's succeeding editions.
Serbia is home to three of the worlds top tennis players. [[Novak Đoković]] is currently ranked #3 in the world, and in 2007, was a U.S. Open finalist. Đoković is considered to be one of the best players and may be the one to over take [[Roger Federer]]. [[Jelena Jankovic]] is currently the fourth best women's player and has reached very far into many gram slams. Lastly, [[Ana Ivanovic]] is currently ranked second in the world and was the 2007 French Open finalist, she also reached the semi finals of Wimbledon in 2007, and in January 2008 she reached the finals of the Australia Open. Ivanovic was also on the cover of the October Issue of TENNIS Magazine.
== See also ==
*[[Beer in Serbia and Montenegro]]
*[[Communications in Serbia and Montenegro]]
*[[Demographics of Serbia and Montenegro]]
*[[Foreign relations of Serbia and Montenegro]]
*[[Geography of 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]]
*[[List of national border changes since the twentieth century]]
== External links ==
*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/country_profiles/1039269.stm Profile: Serbia and Montenegro] at [[BBC News]]
*[http://www.rastko.org.yu/ Project Rastko], a site about [[Serb Orthodox]] culture in Serbia and Montenegro
{{clear}}
{{Yug-timeline}}
[[Category:2003 establishments]]
[[Category:2006 disestablishments]]
[[Category:Former countries in Europe]]
[[Category:Serbia and Montenegro|*]]
[[Category:Short-lived states]]
[[Category:Former Slavic countries]]
[[Category:Amalgamated placenames]]
[[als:Serbien-Montenegro]]
[[ar:صربيا والجبل الأسود]]
[[an:Serbia e Montenegro]]
[[ast:Serbia y Montenegru]]
[[az:Serbiya və Çernoqoriya]]
[[zh-min-nan:Srbija kap O͘-soaⁿ]]
[[be-x-old:Сэрбія і Чарнагорыя]]
[[bs:Srbija i Crna Gora]]
[[bg:Сърбия и Черна гора]]
[[ca:Sèrbia i Montenegro]]
[[cs:Srbsko a Černá Hora]]
[[cy:Serbia a Montenegro]]
[[da:Serbien og Montenegro]]
[[de:Serbien und Montenegro]]
[[et:Serbia ja Montenegro]]
[[el:Σερβία και Μαυροβούνιο]]
[[es:Serbia y Montenegro]]
[[eo:Serbio kaj Montenegro]]
[[eu:Serbia eta Montenegro]]
[[fa:صربستان و مونتهنگرو]]
[[fr:Serbie-et-Monténégro]]
[[fy:Servje en Montenegro]]
[[gl:Serbia e Montenegro - Србија и Црна Гора]]
[[ko:세르비아 몬테네그로]]
[[hy:Սերբիա և Մոնտենեգրո]]
[[hi:सर्बिया और मोंटेनीग्रो]]
[[hr:Srbija i Crna Gora]]
[[io:Serbia e Montenegro]]
[[id:Serbia dan Montenegro]]
[[is:Serbía og Svartfjallaland]]
[[it:Serbia e Montenegro]]
[[he:סרביה ומונטנגרו]]
[[pam:Serbia and Montenegro]]
[[ka:სერბია და მონტენეგრო]]
[[kw:Serbi ha Montenegro]]
[[lv:Serbija un Melnkalne]]
[[lt:Serbija ir Juodkalnija]]
[[li:Servië-Montenegro]]
[[hu:Szerbia és Montenegró]]
[[mk:Србија и Црна Гора]]
[[mt:Serbja u Montenegro]]
[[ms:Serbia dan Montenegro]]
[[nl:Servië en Montenegro]]
[[nds-nl:Servië-Montenegro]]
[[ja:セルビア・モンテネグロ]]
[[no:Serbia og Montenegro]]
[[nn:Serbia og Montenegro]]
[[oc:Serbia e Montenegro]]
[[nds:Serbien un Montenegro]]
[[pl:Serbia i Czarnogóra]]
[[pt:Sérvia e Montenegro]]
[[ro:Serbia şi Muntenegru]]
[[ru:Сербия и Черногория]]
[[sq:Ish Konfederata Serbia dhe Mali i Zi]]
[[scn:Serbia e Montenegru]]
[[simple:Serbia and Montenegro]]
[[sk:Srbsko a Čierna Hora]]
[[sl:Srbija in Črna gora]]
[[sr:Србија и Црна Гора]]
[[sh:Srbija i Crna Gora]]
[[fi:Serbia ja Montenegro]]
[[sv:Serbien och Montenegro]]
[[tl:Serbia at Montenegro]]
[[th:ประเทศเซอร์เบียและมอนเตเนโกร]]
[[vi:Serbia và Montenegro]]
[[tr:Sırbistan-Karadağ]]
[[udm:Сербия но Черногория]]
[[uk:Сербія і Чорногорія]]
[[zh:塞爾維亞與蒙特內哥羅]]