MONETARY UNIT: The euro is the official currency. The euro is divided into 100 cents. There are coins in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 cents and 1 euro and 2 euros. There are notes of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, and 500 euros. As of 26 May 2006, ?1=$1.27213 (or $1=?0.785927).

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES: The metric system is in force.

HOLIDAYS: For the union of Serbia and Montenegro: New Year’s Day, 1 and 2 January; Orthodox Christmas, 7 January; Orthodox New Year, 13 January; Unification of Serbia, 28 March; Yugoslavia Day, 27 April; Labor Day, 1 May; Victory Day, 9 May; St. Vitus Day, 28 June; Serbian Uprising, 7 July.

TIME: 1 pm = noon GMT.

1 Location and Size

Montenegro is located in southeastern Europe along the Adriatic Sea. The total area is 14,026 square kilometers (5,415 square miles). Total land boundary length is 614 kilometers (302 miles) and the coastline is 294 kilometers (183 miles).

Montenegro’s capital, Podgorica, is located in the lowland plain region of the south.

2 Topography

The shoreline of southwestern Montenegro is highly elevated, with no offshore islands. Limestone mountains separate the narrow strip of land that is the coastline from the inland regions. Fifty-two kilometers (32 miles) of the coastline are beaches. The largest bay is the Bay of Kotor, which is the world’s southernmost fjord. In the limestone area bordering the coastline, plants and animals are scarce. Lake Scutari (Skadarsko Jezeroi) is the largest lake in the country; it lies in a lowland region. Northern Montenegro is composed of limestone mountains. The highest peak in Montenegro is Mt. Durmitor (Bobotov Kuk), at 2,522 meters (8,274 feet). The mountain

GEOGRAPHICAL PROFILE

Geographic Features

Area: 14,026 sq km (5,415 sq mi)

Size ranking: 155 of 194

Highest elevation: 2,522 meters (8,274 feet) at Bobotov Kuk

Lowest elevation: Sea level at the Adriatic Sea

Land Use*

Arable land: 14%

Permanent crops: 1%

Other: 85%

Weather**

Average annual precipitation: 70.1 centimeters (27.6 inches)

Average temperature in January: -0.2°c (31.6°f)

Average temperature in July: 22.6°c (72.7°f)

* Arable Land: Land used for temporary crops, like meadows for mowing or pasture, gardens, and greenhouses.

Permanent crops: Land cultivated with crops that occupy its use for long periods, such as cocoa, coffee, rubber, fruit and nut orchards, and vineyards.

Other: Any land not specified, including built-on areas, roads, and barren land.

** The measurements for precipitation and average temperatures were taken at weather stations closest to the country’s largest city.

Precipitation and average temperature can vary significantly within a country, due to factors such as latitude, altitude, coastal proximity, and wind patterns.

ranges are rich in pasturelands, forests, and mountain lakes. The Piva (Komarnica), Tara, Moraca, and Cehotina rivers and their tributaries have carved deep canyons: the Tara Canyon, which at a depth of 1,300 meters (4,265 feet) is the deepest canyon in Europe.

There are several fault lines running through the country. Earth tremors are fairly common and destructive earthquakes have occurred.

3 Climate

The Adriatic climate along the south brings hot and dry summers and relatively cold winters with heavy snowfall inland. Podgorica is the warmest city, with an average July temperature of 26°c (80°f) and an average January temperature of 5°c (41°f). In the mountainous regions, the climate is sub-alpine. Snow on Mt. Durmitor can reach up to 5 meters (16 feet). Annual precipitation ranges from 56 to 190 centimeters (22 to 75 inches).

4 Plants and Animals

About 80% of the territory is comprised of forests, natural pasturelands, and meadows. There are 2,833 plant species and subspecies, which comprise nearly one-quarter of European plants. The animals found in Montenegro include types of hare, pheasant, deer, stag, wild boar, fox, chamois, mouflon, crane, duck, and goose.

5 Environment

Coastal waters are polluted from sewage outlets, especially in resort areas such as Kotor. Destructive earthquakes are a natural hazard.

Threatened species include Atlantic sturgeon, slender-billed curlew, black vultures, asps, bald ibis, several species of shark, the red wood ant, and beluga. At least one type of mollusk has become extinct.

National parks in Montenegro include Durmitor, Lovcen, Biogradska gora, and Lake

Skadar. Mt. Durmitor and the old city of Kotor are UNESCO World Heritage sites.

6 Population

The population of Montenegro in 2006 was estimated at 678,000. The estimated population of Podgorica in 2003 was 136,500 for the city proper and around 170,000 for the metropolitan area.

7 Migration

Information on migration is not available for Montenegro. Prior to June 2006, Montenegro was united with Serbia to form a country called Serbia and Montenegro. During the 1960s and 1970s, Serbia and Montenegro were part of Yugoslavia. Many Serbs fled from region, seeking political and economic freedom. Yugoslavia broke apart in the early 1990s and the ethnic hostilities erupted. Thousands of people moved around from one new country to another. In 2004, nearly 250,000 Serbs and Montenegrins were refugees in Germany, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Switzerland, Canada, France, and Australia. By 2005 the net migration rate was an estimated -1.3 migrants per 1,000 population, down from 3.9 migrants per 1,000 in 1990.

8 Ethnic Groups

According to a 2003 census, 43.16% of the population of Montenegro are Montenegrins, 32% Serbs, 7.77% Bosniaks, 5.03% ethnic Albanians, 4% other Muslim Slavs, 1.1% Croatians, 0.42% Roma, and 6.56% other population.

9 Languages

Serbian is the principal language of the population; Albanian accounts for a small minority. Most people speak a Montenegrin dialect of Serbian. Some Montenegrins claim it as a separate language.

10 Religions

The ancestors of the Serbs converted to Christianity in the ninth century. They sided with Eastern Orthodoxy after the Great Schism of 1054 that split Christendom between the Eastern and Roman Churches. Islam came to the area from the Ottoman Turks in the 15th century.

About 74% of the population is Serbian Orthodox. The Montenegrin Orthodox Church also exists. Muslims account for 17.74% of the population, with smaller numbers of Roman Catholics and Protestants. Protestant denominations include Baptists, Adventists, Reformed Christians, Evangelical Christians, Evangelical Methodists, Jehovah’s Witnesses, the Church of Christ, Mormons, and Pentecostals. There is a small Jewish community in the country.

11 Transportation

The Belgrade-Bar rail line links Serbia to Montenegro and terminates at the Adriatic Sea. Other major rail lines in Montenegro are Podgorica-Niksic and Podgorica-Skandar (Albania). The total length of railroad tracks is 250 kilometers (155.35 miles).

Two main roads in Montenegro are the Adriatic highway, which runs along the coast from Igalo to Ulcinj, and the Petrovac to Podgorica road, which runs near the Serbian border connecting northern and southern Montenegro. There are 5,227 kilometers (3,248 miles) of roads in Montenegro.

Important ports are Bar, Kotor, and Zelenika. There were five airports in Montenegro in 2004, the major one being at Podgorica. Montenegro Airlines provides domestic and international airline service.

12 History

Montenegro’s early history is as part of the medieval development of Serbia, known as Duklja or Zeta, north of Lake Scutari (Skadarsko). The Serbs, one of the large family of Slavic nations, first began settling in the Balkans around the seventh century in the areas now known as Bosnia, Kosovo, and Montenegro. Serbs have a Sarmatian (Iranian) origin. The Serbs organized several principalities, made up of a number of clans headed by leaders known as zupans. Both

the Byzantine Empire and the Bulgars tried to conquer them, but without success.

The medieval Serbian empire was ruled by Stephen Dušan the Mighty (1331–55). It extended from the Aegean Sea to the Danube (Belgrade). It controlled Macedonia, Thessaly, the Epirus, and Albania. The Serbian Church obtained its own patriarchate, with its center in Pe?. Serbia became an exporting land with abundant crops and minerals. Dušan was crowned tsar of “the Serbs and Greeks” in 1346. He gave Serbia its first code of laws. His attempt to conquer the throne of Byzantium failed, however, when the Byzantines called on the Ottoman Turks for help in 1345. Even though Dušan withstood the attacks from the Turks twice, the gates to Europe had been opened. The Ottoman Turks had started their campaign to conquer the Balkans.

Resistance to the Turks Montenegro was subjected to continuous fighting for 400 years, from the mid-1400s to the mid-1800s. Living in a very harsh mountain territory, the Montenegrins were natural and fierce fighters. Not even the large Turkish armies could conquer them. Until 1851, Montenegro was ruled by bishops. The bishops’ role strengthened the Montenegrins’ loyalty to the Orthodox Church and prevented their conversion to Islam. In 1696, Danilo Petrovi? Njegoš (1696–1737) was elected Vladika (bishop), and his family ruled Montenegro until its unification with Serbia into the first Yugoslavia.

The Montenegro area was like a mountain fortress with some limited access from the Adriatic coast where the Turks had taken hold. In 1714 the Turks were able to occupy the capital of Cetinje, but they could not sustain their hold because of difficulties in getting supplies and constant guerrilla attacks by the Montenegrins.

Meanwhile, Peter the Great of Russia had recognized Montenegro’s independence in 1715. He viewed it as an allied Orthodox country valuable in his struggle against the Ottoman Empire. Danilo was successful in opposing the Turks until his death in 1737. His successors had to struggle with the blood feuds among key Montenegrin families. Peter I (1782–1830) was able to bring together the feuding factions and defeat the Turks in 1799. Peter also obtained from the Turks a formal recognition of Montenegro’s independence. During the Napoleonic wars, Montenegro, Russia’s ally, fought the French over Dubrovnik. In 1806, Montenegro occupied the Gulf of Kotor, thus gaining access to the Adriatic sea. But Montenegro had to relinquish Kotor to Austria following the Congress of Vienna decisions in 1814–15.

The 19th Century Peter I died in 1830. Peter II, considered by many to be the greatest Serbian poet, established a senate of 12 members and centralized his authority. However, his successor, Danilo II (1851–60), effected a radical change by proclaiming himself hereditary prince. Danilo died in 1860 of a wound inflicted by an exiled Montenegrin rebel.

Danilo’s nephew Nicholas took over as the last independent ruler of Montenegro from 1860 until the 1918 unification with Serbia and the first Yugoslavia. During his 58-year reign Nicholas gained the nickname of “Father-in-Law of Europe” by marrying six daughters into Italian, Russian, Serbian, and German royal families. Through a series of wars with Turkey (1862, 1876, 1912, and 1913), Nicholas succeeded in more than doubling Montenegro’s territory. Following the 1913 Balkan War, Montenegro and Serbia divided the Sandžak area and became neighbor states, both primarily populated by Serbs.

The first Montenegrin parliament met in 1905. Following the successful Balkan wars, Serbian-Montenegrin relations grew closer. By 1914, the two Serbian kingdoms proposed a union in which they would share their armed forces, foreign policy, and customs while maintaining their separate royal dynasties. World War I (1913–18) interrupted this process. Montenegro’s poor defense led to Austrian occupation for the better part of the war.

Montenegro as Part of Yugoslavia A Montenegrin Committee for National Union was formed by exiles in Paris who supported the 20 July 1917 Corfu Declaration on the establishment of a Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes. The Montenegrin Committee felt the time had come to unite with the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes. King Nicholas opposed such a move and was deposed. On 24 November 1918, a resolution was passed in favor of Montenegro’s union with the Kingdom of Serbia. Thus, Montenegro became part of the first Yugoslavia on 1 December 1918.

During World War II (1939–45), Italy controlled Montenegro and attempted unsuccessfully to revive the old kingdom. In the post-World War II Socialist Federative Yugoslavia, Josip Broz Tito reestablished Montenegro as a separate republic due to strong Montenegrin representation in the circle of his closest collaborators. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, most Montenegrins supported Serbian leader Slobodan Miloševi?. With the demise of Yugoslavia, Montenegro joined Serbia in forming the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

Independence On 14 March 2002, Serbia and Montenegro agreed to form a new federal union, called Serbia and Montenegro. Montenegro’s prime minister, Milo Djukanovi?, was reluctant to sign the agreement. He had been the leader of the drive for independence for Montenegro. However, the country of Serbia and Montenegro came into existence in 2003. The constitution provided for either of the two member republics to vote for independence in three years (2006).

A referendum on full independence for Montenegro was held on 21 May 2006. To be accepted internationally, a 55% majority was required for a “yes” vote. The vote on independence was 55.5% in favor. Voter turnout was 86.3%. Serbia became the successor state to the union of Serbia and Montenegro, inheriting its seat in the United Nations (UN) and seats in other international institutions. Montenegro had to apply for UN and European Union (EU) membership on its own. Serbia inherited legal claim to the UN-administered province of Kosovo.

Montenegro’s independence cuts Serbia off from the sea; therefore, the two nations need to cooperate on sharing the former union’s assets.

Montenegrins may be given favorable treatment to use Serbia’s hospitals, universities, and other public services. National elections in Montenegro were held in September 2006.

13 Government

The constitution for the former union of Serbia and Montenegro allowed the member republics to hold independence referendums in 2006, which Montenegro did. Following the yes vote on independence in May 2006, Montenegro began the process of forming a government.

Representatives in Montenegro’s assembly (parliament) hold office for four years. The president of Montenegro presents candidates for prime minister and justices of the Constitutional Court to the assembly. The president also grants pardons; proposes the holding of referenda; and represents the country at home and abroad.

There are 21 municipalities (opština) in Montenegro.

14 Political Parties

Elections for Montenegro’s parliament were held on 21 October 2002. Eleven parties were represented: the Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro (DPS), 30 seats; Social Democratic Party of Montenegro (SDP), 5; Civic Party of Montenegro, 1; non-partisans, 2; Socialist People’s Party of Montenegro, 19; Serbian People’s Party of Montenegro (SNS), 6; People’s Party of Montenegro, 5; Liberal Alliance of Montenegro, 4; Democratic Union of Albanians, 1; and the Democratic League of Montenegro (SPP), 1. Following independence, elections were held in September 2006. Seats in the parliament were

BIOGRAPHICAL PROFILE

Name: Filip Vujanovic

Position: First president of newly independent republic

Took Office: May 2006

Birthdate: 1 September 1954

Education: University of Belgrade

Spouse: Married

Children: Two daughters and one son

Of interest: Travels freely in Podgorica with friends but without security guards.

distributed as follows: Coalition for a European Montenegro 41, SNS 12, a coalition (SPP/NS/Democratic Serbian Party of Montenegro— DSS) 11, Movement for Changes (PZP) 11, and others, 6.

On 11 May 2003, Filip Vujanovic of the DPS was elected president. As of 2006, Milo Djukanovi? was serving as prime minister.

15 Judicial System

The republic of Montenegro followed the system of separation of powers: the judicial, legislative, and executive branches are independent of one another. The judiciary is autonomous and independent. The Constitutional Court has the power of judicial review. Appointments to the judiciary are for life.

16 Armed Forces

The following information on armed forces pertains to the union of Serbia and Montenegro and was reported prior to Montenegro’s independence in 2006. Active armed forces numbered approximately 65,300 in 2005, supported by 250,000 reservists. The army had 55,000 active personnel. The navy had 3,800 active personnel, including 900 Marines. The air force had 6,500 active members. The defense budget in 2005 totaled $706 million.

17 Economy

During the UN economic sanctions (1992–95), economic activity in the former Yugoslavia was extremely limited. Formal lifting of these sanctions occurred in October 1996. In 2005 the GDP growth rate in Serbia and Montenegro was estimated at 5%.

In Montenegro, inflation fell from 7.5% in 2003 to 5% in 2004. Economic reforms were launched in 2003. They were driven by the goal of EU integration. By 2006, the reforms had not yet led to higher levels of growth or reduced unemployment. In 2003, the poverty rate was recorded at 12.2%, but more than a third of the population was considered poor, living just above the poverty level.

18 Income

The following information on income pertains to the union of Serbia and Montenegro, prior to Montenegro’s independence in 2006. In 2005, the per capita GDP for Serbia and Montenegro was estimated at $2,700. The annual growth rate of GDP was estimated at 5%. It was estimated that agriculture accounted for 17% of GDP, industry 25%, and services 58%.

19 Industry

Industry was the primary engine of economic development in Montenegro in the second half of the 20th century. During that period, the growth of the power and energy sector, metallurgy (steel and aluminum), and transportation infrastructure formed the basis for overall economic growth and development.

Components of the Economy

This pie chart shows how much of the country’s economy is devoted to agriculture (including forestry, hunting, and fishing), industry, or services.

Industries in Montenegro include metal processing, engineering, wood processing, textile manufacturing, chemicals, leather and footwear, apparel, household appliances, construction, and machinery.

Montenegro processes and finishes agricultural products. The country has fish-processing plants, flour mills, dairies, slaughterhouses, bakeries, breweries, juice factories, fruit processing factories, grape processing plants and wine cellars, medicinal herb processing plants, tobacco and cigarette factories, and confectioners, among other industries.

20 Labor

The following information on labor pertains to the union of Serbia and Montenegro, prior to Montenegro’s independence in 2006. The labor force in Serbia and Montenegro was estimated at 3.22 million in 2005. The unemployment rate in 2005 was estimated at 31.6%.

The minimum employment age is 16 although younger children frequently work on family farms. As of 2005, there was no national

minimum wage rate. On average, the full-time monthly wage in the public sector that year was $181, while the average wage in the private sector was $250.

21 Agriculture

Two of Montenegro’s main agricultural products are honey and high-quality wines (Vranac, Krstac, among others). Montenegro also produces many vegetables (tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers) and fruits (plums, apples, grapes, citrus fruits, and olives). Other crops include blueberries, edible mushrooms, and wild sage.

About 15% of Montenegro’s land area is arable. In 2000, 20% of the labor force was engaged in agriculture. During 2002–04, crop production was 10% higher than during 1999–2001.

Agriculture contributed an estimated 17% to GDP in 2005. Major crops produced in 2004 in Serbia and Montenegro included (in thousands of tons): corn, 6,287; wheat, 2,746; sugar beets, 2,643; potatoes, 1,098; and grapes, 490.

22 Domesticated Animals

The following information on animal husbandry pertains to the union of Serbia and Montenegro, prior to Montenegro’s independence in 2006. In 2005, the livestock population included 3,550,000 pigs and hogs, 1,796,600 sheep, 1,230,000 head of cattle, 182,000 goats, 40,000 horses, and 17,464,000 poultry. Total meat production that year was 848,240 tons; milk, 1,852,000 tons.

23 Fishing

Statistics recorded for Serbia and Montenegro note that the total catch in 2003 was 3,665 tons, 86% from inland waters. Common carp accounts for much of the inland catch.

24 Forestry

Forests and woodlands cover 720,000 hectares (1,779,192 acres) in Montenegro, accounting for 54% of the total surface area of the republic. Of this figure, the major part (572,000 hectares; 1,413,469 acres) is in the northern region of the country. Total roundwood production in Serbia and Montenegro in 2004 was 3,520,000 cubic meters (124.3 billion cubic feet). In 2004, exports of forest products in Serbia and Montenegro amounted to nearly $139.1 million. Imports amounted to $352.9 million.

25 Mining

Mining in Serbia dates back to the Middle Ages, when silver, gold, and lead were extracted.

The following information on mining pertains to the union of Serbia and Montenegro prior to Montenegro’s independence in 2006. Serbia and Montenegro mined lead ore, bauxite, copper ore, silver, gold, alumina, magnesium, palladium, platinum, and selenium. Bauxite mining, alumina-refining, and aluminum-smelting industries were located primarily in Montenegro. Among the industrial minerals produced were asbestos, bentonite, ceramic clay, fire clay, feldspar, pumice, lime, magnesite, mica, kaolin, gypsum, quartz sand, salt, nitrogen, caustic soda, sodium sulfate, sand and gravel, and stone.

26 Foreign Trade

The following information on foreign trade pertains to the union of Serbia and Montenegro prior to Montenegro’s independence in 2006. In 2004 exports reached $3.2 billion. In the same year, imports were almost triple, at $9.5 billion. Most of the import commodities included machinery and transport equipment, fuels and lubricants, manufactured goods, chemicals, food and live animals, and raw materials. The imports mainly came from Germany (18.5%), Italy (16.5%), Austria (8.3%), Slovenia (6.7%), Bulgaria (4.7%), and France (4.5%). Exports included manufactured goods, food and live animals, and raw materials, and largely went to Italy (which received 29% of total exports), Germany (16.6%), Austria (7%), Greece (6.7%), France (4.9%), and Slovenia (4.1%).

27 Energy and Power

According to Montenegrin government sources, three power plants—the Perucica and Piva hydroelectric plants and the Pljevlja thermoelectric plant—produce approximately 3.0 billion kilowatt hours per year. Montenegro has the capacity to produce 2.7 million metric tons of coal.

28 Social Development

A social insurance system for Serbia and Montenegro provided old age, disability, and survivorship benefits. Montenegro provides its own system for sickness and maternity benefits.

Workers’ compensation, unemployment benefits, and family allowances are also available.

Traditional gender roles keep women from enjoying equal status with men and few occupy positions of leadership in private business. However, women are active in human rights and political organizations.

29 Health

The government provides health care to its citizens. In the union of Serbia and Montenegro, there were approximately 228 health institutions and about 3,000 other clinics, mostly private, in 2005. As of 2004, there were an estimated 20 physicians per 100,000 people.

Average life expectancy in 2005 for Serbia and Montenegro was 74.73 years. As of 2004, there were approximately 10,000 people living with HIV/AIDS in Serbia and Montenegro. There were an estimated 100 deaths from AIDS in 2003.

30 Housing

At the beginning of 1996, there were 3,124,000 dwellings in Serbia and Montenegro, with an average of 3.4 persons per dwelling. Housing area at that time averaged 20 square meters (215 square feet) per person. In 2002, Serbia and Montenegro counted about 2,790,411 households with an average of 2.89 people per household.

31 Education

Education is compulsory for nine years of primary school. This may be followed by three years of secondary school, with students having the option to attend general, vocational, or art schools. In 2001, about 43% of children between the ages of three and six were enrolled in some type of preschool program in the union of Serbia and Montenegro. Primary school enrollment in 2001 was estimated at about 96%. The same year, secondary school enrollment was about 82%. It is estimated that about 96% of all students complete their primary education. The student-to-teacher ratio for primary school was at about 20 to 1 in 2000; the ratio for secondary school was about 14 to 1.

Montenegro has one university with 15 faculties. In 2001, it was estimated that about 36% of the post-secondary-age population was enrolled in higher education programs. The adult literacy rate for 2004 was estimated at about 96.4%.

32 Media

In 2003, there were an estimated 243 mainline telephones for every 1,000 people in Serbia and Montenegro. About 313,500 people were on a waiting list for telephone service installation. The same year, there were approximately 338 mobile phones in use for every 1,000 people.

Television stations included TV Montenegro, a state-funded company that operated two networks and a satellite channel; TV IN; Montenegrin Broadcasting Company (MBC), private; ntv Montena, private; TV Elmag, private; and TV Pink M—Montenegrin offshoot of Belgrade-based network. The following radio stations were operating: Radio Montenegro, a state-funded company that operated two networks; Radio Elmag, private; Antena M, private; and Radio D, private.

In 2004, Serbia and Montenegro had about 297 radios and 282 television sets for every 1,000 people. The same year, there were 27.1 personal computers for every 1,000 people and 79 of every 1,000 people had access to the Internet.

In 1791, the first Serbian-language newspaper was published in Vienna, Austria. The dailies with the largest circulation in Serbia and Montenegro (as of 2002) were Politika (Politics, 300,000) and Vecernje Novosti (Evening News, 169,000). Other newspapers that are essentially controlled by the government, included (with 2002 circulation) Borba (85,000), Jedinstvo (6,090), Dnevnik (61,000), and Pobjeda (19,400). There are several minority language newspapers.

The Montenegrin media enjoyed greater freedom than their Serbian counterparts. Many private outlets managed to break the former state monopoly. In Montenegro, the following media were publishing in 2005: Vijesti, private daily; Pobjeda, daily; Dan, daily; Republika, daily; and Monitor, private weekly.

33 Tourism and Recreation

Rich architecture, museums, galleries, cathedrals, parks, rivers, and the many beaches are just some of the attractions that bring visitors to Montenegro. Montenegro has four national parks; the largest are the Lake of Skadar (Skadarsko) Basin and Durmitor. Montenegro has two UNESCO world heritage sites: Mt. Durmitor and the old city of Kotor. Popular sports in Montenegro are tennis, football, volleyball, water sports, bocanje (a kind of bowling), skiing, and rafting. There are numerous sand and pebble beaches on the Montenegrin coastline. It is one of the warmest and sunniest tourist regions in Europe. Although classified as a Mediterranean country, Montenegro is a mountainous region. Areas with elevations of 1,000 meters (3,300 feet) or higher comprise 60.5% of the nation’s territory.

In 2003, there were 599,430 visitors to Montenegro, of whom 141,787 were foreign tourists. There were 3,976,266 hotel rooms booked, of which foreign visitors accounted for 915,738.

34 Famous Montenegrins

Prince Danilo II of Montenegro (reigned 1851–60) introduced a new legal code in 1855 that guaranteed civil and religious freedoms. King Nikola I Petrovi? Njegoš (1841–1921) was the only king of Montenegro, reigning as a king from 1910 to 1918 and as a prince from 1860 to 1910. He was also a poet who wrote Onamo, ‘namo, the popular anthem of Montenegro. King Alexander of Yugoslavia (1888–1934) was assassinated in Marseille, France. Prince Paul of Yugoslavia (1893–1976) ruled as a regent for Peter II (1923–1970) from 1934 to 1941 and was forced into exile after signing a secret pact with the Nazi government.

Important Montenegrin poets of the 20th century include Risto Ratkovic and Radovan Ziogovic. Important prose writers include Mihailo Lalic, whose realistic novels portray Montenegro’s place in World War II. Painters include Petar Lubarda, Milo Milunovic, Dado Djuric, Branko Filipovic-Filo, Vojo Stanic, and Uros Toskovic.

35 Bibliography

BOOKS

Behnke, Alison. Serbia and Montenegro in Pictures. Minneapolis: Twenty-First Century Books, 2007.

Fleming, Thomas. Montenegro: The Divided Land.San Francisco: Chronicle Books, 2002.

Frucht, Richard (ed.). Eastern Europe: An Introduction to the People, Lands, and Culture. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, 2005.

Houston, Marco. Nikola and Milena, King and Queen of the Black Mountain: The Rise and Fall of Montenegro’s Royal Family. London: Leppi Publications, 2003.

King, David C. Serbia and Montenegro. New York: Marshall Cavendish Benchmark, 2005.

Klemencic, Matjaz. The Former Yugoslavia’s Diverse Peoples: A Reference Sourcebook. Oxford, Eng.: ABC-Clio, 2003.

Schuman, Michael. Serbia and Montenegro. 2nd ed. New York: Facts On File, 2004.

Stevenson, Francis Seymour. A History of Montenegro. Boston: Adamant Media Corporation, 2002.