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Revision as of 11:11, 22 May 2006 view sourceOwenBlacker (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers45,114 editsm Minor edit on 55% mandate required for independence; Template:Lang-sr; unitalicised Cyrillic← Previous edit Revision as of 11:34, 22 May 2006 view source 172.200.186.203 (talk)No edit summaryNext edit →
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|native_name = Republika Crna Gora<br/>Република Црна Гора<br/>Republic of Montenegro |native_name = Republika Crna Gora<br/>Република Црна Гора<br/>Republic of Montenegro
|common_name = Montenegro |common_name = Montenegro
|image_flag = Flag of Montenegro.svg|100px |image_flag = Domestic ferret.jpg|100px
|image_coat = Coat of arms of Montenegro.svg |image_coat = ClarksonandQueen2005.jpg
|image_map = LocationMontenegro.jpg |image_map = Human female anus.jpeg
|national_motto = None |national_motto = None
|national_anthem = ] |national_anthem = ]

Revision as of 11:34, 22 May 2006

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Republika Crna Gora
Република Црна Гора
Republic of Montenegro
Flag of Montenegro Flag Coat of arms of Montenegro Coat of arms
Motto: None
Anthem: Oj, svijetla majska zoro
Location of Montenegro
Capitaland largest cityPodgorica
Official languagesMontenegrin
GovernmentRepublic
Independence
• Water (%)N/A
Population
• 2003 estimate616,258 (164th if ranked)
GDP (PPP)2005 estimate
• Total$1.91 billion (167th if ranked)
• Per capita$3,100 (117th if ranked)
HDI (N/A)N/A
Error: Invalid HDI value (N/A)
CurrencyEuro (EUR)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Calling code831
ISO 3166 codeME
Internet TLD.yu

Montenegro, officially the Republic of Montenegro (Template:Lang-sr), is a republic in the Balkans, on the Adriatic Sea. It is bordered by Bosnia and Herzegovina to the north, Serbia to the east, Albania to the south, and Croatia to the west. By its constitution, Montenegro is defined as a "democratic, welfare, and ecological state" .

Crna Gora translates literally to "black mountain", a reference to the dark forests that once covered the slopes of the Dinaric Alps as seen from the coast . The country's name in most Western European languages, including English, reflects an adoption of the Venetian term "monte negro" which also means black mountain. Other languages use their own direct translation of black mountain, ranging from Mali i Zi in Albanian to Μαυροβούνιο in Greek to Karadağ in Turkish.

For 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 Petrović Njegoš proclaimed himself King. In 1918, a Serb-approved legislature, sitting in Podgorica, approved the country's annexation by Serbia. Montenegrins loyal to King Nicholas and independence resisted but were suppressed by 1924 by the Serbian Army.

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 states of the state union of Serbia and Montenegro. On May 21 2006, Montenegro held a referendum to determine whether or not to terminate the union with Serbia. The next day, state-certified results showed voters favoring independence, with 55.4% of voters in favor, just above the 55% mandate required by the referendum.

History

Main article: History of Montenegro
File:Principalities02.png
Duklja in the 10th century

The Slav tribes mixed with Illyrians, Avars, and Romans organized into a semi-independent dukedom of Duklja by the 10th century. In 1077, Pope Gregory VII recognized Duklja as an independent state, acknowledging its King Mihailo (Michael) (of the Vojisavljević dynasty founded by nobleman Stefan Vojislav) as rex Doclea (King of Duklja). The kingdom, however, paid tribute to the Byzantine Empire; it gave birth to the later medieval kingdom of Serbian Great Zupan (Serbian: župan) Stefan Nemanja, who originated from Duklja.

The independent principality of Zeta (which more closely corresponds to the early modern state of Montenegro) asserted itself towards 1360. The House of Balšić (1360s - 1421) and the House of Crnojević (1421 - 1499) dynasties ruled Zeta; and though the Ottoman Empire controlled the lands to the south and east from the 15th century, it never fully conquered Zeta.

In 1516, the secular prince Đurađ Crnojević abdicated in favor of the Archbishop Vavil, who then formed Montenegro into a theocratic state under the rule of the prince-bishop (vladika) of Cetinje, a position held from 1697 by the Petrović-Njegoš family of the Riđani clan. Petar Petrović Njegoš, perhaps the most influential vladika, reigned in the first half of the 19th century. In 1851 Danilo II Petrović Njegoš became vladika, but in 1852 he married, threw off his ecclesiastical character, assuming the title of knjaz (Prince), and transformed his land into a secular principality.

In 1910, Prince Nikola I became King of Montenegro. Two years later, in October, 1912, King Nikola declared war on the Ottoman Empire, precipitating the two Balkan Wars. The Montenegrin army'a attack the Ottoman fortress city of Skutari, forced the empire to gather a large army in neighboring Macedonia. This Ottoman army was then attacked by the forces of Greece, Serbia, and Bulgaria which entered the war by pre-arrangement. The result was a military disaster for the Ottomans, who were thrown back to an area north of Constantinople.

Montenegro emerged from the Balkan Wars doubled in size, receiving half of the former Ottoman territory known as the Sanjak, but without Skutari, the country's major prize in the war. The London Conference awarded Skutari to an independent Albania.

An allied power during World War I, Montenegro was occupied by Austro-Hungarian troops. In 1918, a Serbian-controlled legislature approved annexation by Serbia. However, pro-independence Montenegrins revolted on Christmas Day, 1919 against Serbia. The revolt was supressed in 1924.

From 1919 to 1941, Montenegro was a part of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. During World War II, Montenegro was occupied by Italian fascist troops and later Nazi troops (1941-1944). From 1945 to 1992, Montenegro was a constituent republic of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. It was during this time that the present capital Podgorica was known as Titograd.

After dissolution of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in 1992 Montenegro went into federacy with Serbia firstly as Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and later when federation of the two countries has loosened as Serbia and Montenegro.

On May 21 2006 Montenegro regained its independence when its citizens voted by referendum for separation from Serbia, ending dissolution of former Yugoslavia's states. 55.3% voted for independence, just over the 55% the referendum required to succeed.

Government and Politics

Main article: Politics of Montenegro

Geography

Main article: Geography of Montenegro
A detailed map of Montenegro
Municipalities of Montenegro

The principal cities and towns of Montenegro are:

Internationally, it borders Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Albania and the southern Serbian province of Kosovo.

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 Mount Orjen plunge abruptly into the inlet of the Bay of Kotor.

Montenegro's vast Karst region lies generally at elevations of 1,000 meters (3,281 ft) above sea level - however some parts rise to 2,000 meters (6,560 ft) like Mount Orjen (1,894 m / 6,214 ft), the highest masif among the coastal limestone ranges. Zeta River valley is the lowest segment at an elevation of 500 meters (1,640 ft).

The rough mountains of Montenegro include some of the most rugged terrain in Europe. They average more than 2,000 meters (6,560 ft) in elevation. One of the country's notable peaks is Bobotov Kuk in the Durmitor mountain, which reaches a height of 2,522 meters (8,274 ft). The Montenegrin mountain ranges were among the most ice-eroded parts of the Balkan Peninsula during the last glacial period.

See also: List of cities in Montenegro

Economy

Main article: Economy of Montenegro

Demographics

Ethnic map of Montenegro according to the 2003 census
Main article: Demographic history of Montenegro

Ethnic composition according to the 2003 census:

NB: Montenegrin and Serb identities are not exclusive and the size of each group varies with each census, due to political events and as people view themselves, on balance, as more one than the other. A "Montenegrin" may view himself as a "Serb" as well, and vice versa. Of course, in both groups there are those who view themselves as belonging to one group exclusively.

Outside, over 270,000 citizens of Serbia have Montenegrin citizenship. Around 69,000 of them are Montenegrins, while others are mostly Serbs.

In the constitution of Montenegro adopted in 1992, the official language of the republic was changed from Serbo-Croat to the Serbian of the Ijekavian standard. As of 2003, 63.5% of the population declare Serbian their mother tongue, while almost 22% declare Montenegrin language. The dialects used are the same, very similar to those used by Serbs, Croats and Muslims in Bosnia and Croatia, with slight nuances.

Over 74% of Montenegrins are Eastern Orthodox Christians, adherents of the Serbian Orthodox Church, although there is also the Montenegrin Orthodox Church. 110,000 Muslims make up 17.74% of Montenegro's population. They are divided into three main groups: ethnic Albanians and Slavic Muslims split among Bosniaks that speak Bosnian and Montenegrin Muslims that prefer Serbian. Albanians are a separate group, speaking their Albanian (5.26%) and living mostly in the south-east, especially in Ulcinj, where they form the majority of the population. Bosniaks are Slavic Muslims speaking the Bosnian language living mostly in the north. Finally, there are a few Croats and other Catholic inhabitants, who live mostly in the coastal areas, particularly Boka Kotorska.

Union with Serbia

In the referendum on remaining in Yugoslavia in 1992, 95.96% of the votes were cast for remaining in 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 under undemocratic conditions, with widespread propaganda from the state-controlled media in favour of a pro-federation vote.

In 1996, Milo Đukanović's government severed de facto ties between Montenegro and Serbia (then still under Milošević). Montenegro formed its own economic policy and switched to using the Deutsche Mark as its currency as proposed by foreign economic advisors at the time. It currently uses the euro, though it is not formally part of the Eurozone. The Serbian Dinar is not legal tender in Montenegro and is only accepted at a few tourist resorts.

The current and previous government of Montenegro are carrying out pro-independence policies. Political tensions with Serbia still simmer regardless of the recent political changes in Belgrade.

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

Union between Serbia and Montenegro was dissolved by a referendum on Montenegrin independence on May 21, 2006 where more than 55% of voters voted pro independence.

Symbols

A new official flag of Montenegro was adopted on July 12th 2004 by the Montenegrin legislature. The new flag is based on the personal standard of King Nikola I of Montenegro. It is all red with a gold border with a gold coat of arms of King Nikola I (the initials НI are of King Nikola I in Cyrillic script).

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.

In 2004, the Montenegrin legislature selected a popular Montenegrin folk song, "Oh the Bright Dawn of May", as the national anthem. Montenegro's official anthem during the reign of King Nicholas was Ubavoj nam Crnoj Gori (To our beautiful Montenegro). The music was composed by the King's son Knjaz Mirko.

See also

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External links

Government and politics

Culture and history

Tourism

Template:Montenegro

Template:Serbia and Montenegro

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