Montenegro

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This article is about the republic in Serbia-Montenegro, Europe. For the city in Brazil, see Montenegro, Brazil.

The Republic of Montenegro (Serbian: Црна Гора, Crna Gora, meaning "black mountain") is a small, mountainous republic in the Balkans, on the Adriatic Sea. According to its constitution, it is a democratic, social, and ecological state.

Throughout a number of centuries Montenegro was a de facto independent principality ruled by a succession of dynasties and rulers. The country obtained de jure international recognition of its independence, following the Eastern Crisis (1875-1878), at the Congress of Berlin. On 28 August 1910, Montenegro's ruler Prince Nikola Petrovic Njegos proclaimed himself King of Montenegro. Between 1945 and 2003, Montenegro was a republic of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia respectively. It is now one of two constituent parts of the state union of Serbia and Montenegro.

Internationally, it borders Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Albania. Within the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro it borders Serbia, both central Serbia and Serbia's southern autonomous province, Kosovo and Metohia.

The principal cities and towns of Montenegro are: the capital Podgorica (139,100 inhabitants), Nikšić (61,700), Pljevlja (18,800), and Bijelo Polje (17,100). The former royal capital and the seat of the throne is Cetinje.

Република Црна Гора
Republika Crna Gora


(In detail)	(In detail)

Map of Montenegro within the state union

Serbian

Former Royal Capital

Area
- Total
- % water

13,812 km²
n/a

Population
- Total (2003)
- Density

616,258
48.7/km²

Ethnic groups

Montenegrins: 43%
Serbs: 32%
Bosniaks: 8%
Albanians: 5%
Others: 12%

Oj, svijetla majska zoro Official melodic version (mp3)

UTC +1

.yu still used (.cs reserved)

Contents

Demographics

Main article: Demographic history of Montenegro

Ethnic composition according to the 2003 census:

Montenegrins: 267,669 (43.16%)
Serbs: 198,414 (31.99%)
Bosniaks: 48,184 (7.77%)
Albanians: 31,163 (5.03%)
Muslims: 24,625 (3.97%)
Croats: 6,811 (1.10%)
Roma: 2,601 (0.42%)

According to the constitution of Montenegro, the official language is Serbian of the Ijekavian standard. As of 2003, over 60% of the population declare Serbian their mother tongue, while 21.53% declare Montenegrin language. The used dialects are the same, and very similar to those used in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the difference is mostly in the naming.

Montenegrins are mostly Eastern Orthodox Christians, belonging to the Serb Orthodox Church. A Montenegrin Orthodox Church was established in 1993. Many Muslims also live in Montenegro and they are divided into three groups: ethnic Albanians, Bosniaks and simply "Muslims". Finally, there are a few Catholics inhabitants, who live mostly in the coastal areas, especially around Boka Kotorska.

Geography

Main article: Geography of Montenegro

Map of Montenegro

The Montenegrin surface ranges from high peaks along its borders with Kosovo and Albania, a segment of the Karst of the western Balkan Peninsula, to a narrow coastal plain that is only one to four miles wide. The plain stops abruptly in the north, where Mount Lovcen and other mountains plunge abruptly into the inlet of the Boka Kotorska.

Montenegro's Karst region lies generally at elevations of 1,000 meters above sea level - however some parts rise to 2,000 meters. Zeta River valley is the lowest segment at an elevation of 500 meters.

The rough mountains of Montenegro include some of the most rugged terrain in Europe. They average more than 2,000 meters in elevation. One of the country's notable peaks is Bobotov Kuk in the Durmitor Mountains, which reaches a height of 2,522 meters. The Montenegrin mountain ranges were among the most ice-eroded parts of the Balkan Peninsula during the last glacial period.

Longest beach: Velika Plaza, Ulcinj - 13,000 m
Highest peak: Bobotov Kuk (Durmitor Mt.) - 2,522 m
Largest lake: Lake Skadar - 391 km² (surface)
Deepest canyon: River Tara - 1,300 m
Biggest fyord: Boka Kotorska (Bay of Kotor)
National parks: Durmitor - 390 km², Lovcen - 64 km², Biogradska Gora - 54 km², Lake Skadar - 400 km²
UNESCO World Heritage sites: Durmitor and Tara River canyon, old city of Kotor

Union with Serbia

On the last referendum on remaining in Yugoslavia in 1992, some 96% of the votes were cast for keeping the federation with Serbia, although the turnout was at 66% because of a boycott by the Muslim and Catholic minorities as well as of pro-independence Montenegrins. Proponents of independence claim that the poll was organized in undemocratic conditions, with widespread propaganda from the state-controlled media in favour of a pro-federation vote. The poll was held during an ongoing war between Yugoslavia and neighbouring Croatia.

In 1996, Milo Đukanović's government de facto severed ties between Montenegro and Serbia (back then still under Milošević). The tensions between the two states still simmer regardless of the political changes in Belgrade. Montenegro formed its own economic policy and switched to the Deutsche Mark as its currency. It is currently exclusively using the euro, though it is not formally part of the Eurozone. Serbian Dinar is not legal tender in Montenegro and is not accepted as a mode of payment.

The current and previous government of Montenegro are carrying out pro-independence policies after recognizing the failure of remaining in a joint state with Serbia. They postponed the census twice, under pressure from the international community, which was afraid for the stability of Serbia, from 2001 to 2002 and then November 2003). They also postponed the independence referendum countless times, which caused many independence supporters too loose faith in the government's will for independence.

In 2002, Serbia and Montenegro came to a new agreement regarding continued cooperation. In 2003, the Yugoslav federation was replaced in favor of a looser state union named Serbia and Montenegro and the possible referendum for Montenegro's independence was postponed until 2006.

The status of the state union between Serbia and Montenegro is probably going to be decided when the three-year-set moratorium on an independence referendum ends.

Symbols

Montenegro's parliament on July 12, 2004, adopted a new flag, national anthem and national day, as part of a push for the republic's independence from the state union of Serbia and Montenegro.

The flag of the former Montenegrin monarchy: the gold coat of arms of the King Nikola on red field with a gold border (the initials НI of King Nikola, however, are left out), shown above, was adopted as the official flag of Montenegro on July 12th 2004 by the Parliament of Montenegro.

The national day of 13 July marks the date in 1878 when the Congress of Berlin recognised Montenegro as the 27th independent state in the world and the start of the first popular uprising in Europe against the Axis Powers on 13 July 1941 in Montenegro.

Parliament selected one of the best known Montenegrin folk songs, "Oh the Bright Dawn of May", as the national anthem. The decision was opposed by the pro-Serbian opposition parties in Montenegro and the Serbian Orthodox Church in Belgrade - who claim that two verses of the specific version chosen by the Montenegrin government were originally arranged by Nazi collaborator Drljević in the early 20th century.

The issue of Drljević also serves to illustrate the ever-troubled relations between the states of Montenegro and Serbia, a relationship that is deeply contested even in the darker sides of history. Namely, Sekula Drljević and his wife met their death after having their throats slit by the hands of Serbian Nazi collaborators Chetniks in Judenburg, Austria in 1945.

External links

Official web site of the Republic of Montenegro
Visit Montenegro - web site of the National Tourism Organisation of Montenegro
Uherope - Travel Tips to Montenegro and more
Official website of Government of the Republic of Montenegro
Official website of Parliament of the Republic of Montenegro
Official website of President of the Republic of Montenegro
Constitution of Montenegro (in Serbian)

	State Union Serbia and Montenegro
Republics: Serbia \| Montenegro
	Autonomous provinces of Serbia: Kosovo and Metohija \| Vojvodina

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