.gif)
Republic of Montenegro (federal)
Encyclopedia
The Republic of Montenegro was a federal unit of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
(known as Serbia and Montenegro after 2003) between 1992 and 2006. The declaration of independence of Montenegro
in 2006, brought about the collapse of the state union with Serbia.
After the collapse of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
(SFRY), the remaining republics of Montenegro and Serbia agreed to the formation of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) which officially abandoned communism and endorsed democratic institutions. Montenegro was a constituent republic of the FRY until 2003, when the FRY was reconstituted as the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro in which Montenegro separated in 2006, becoming an independent country.
Upon entry into the FRY, Montenegro was led by President Momir Bulatovic
a former member of the Communist party in Yugoslavia and a supporter of Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic
, whom Bulatovic helped gain power during the Anti-Bureaucratic Revolution
, in which Bulatovic and then Milosevic gained power in their respective republics. In the final years of the SFRY's existence, Bulatovic had supported Milosevic's demands for a "one-member, one-vote" system in the Communist party congress which would have given numerical superiority to the Serbs in the congress. This fostered the collapse of the Communist party and later the SFRY. Bulatovic began to show reluctance to remaining in a union with Serbia when countries like Italy
offered Montenegro the possibility of quick access into the European Community if Montenegro separated from Yugoslavia. However Bulatovic's brief endorsement of Montenegrin independence ended due to pressure from Serbia. In 1992, Bulatovic agreed to joining the FRY, after which Montenegro abandoned its Communist infrastructure and became a democracy. In 1992, the capital of Titograd (named after former Yugoslav leader Joseph Broz Tito) was renamed to its pre-communist name of Podgorica
and a year later Montenegro abandoned its former Communist-era flag, and adopted a plain tricolour, similar to Serbia's but with a brighter blue for its centre stripe and the flag was longer than that of Serbia's, marking a distinction between the two republics which had exactly the same flag during the Communist era.
Montenegro remaining in union with Serbia was important for a number of reasons. The first was that Montenegro's union with Serbia provided the only legitimacy to the continuation of a Yugoslav state, and it's union was important to Serbia in that the continuation of a Yugoslav state would allow the Serb-dominated federation to lay claim to former Yugoslav territory in Bosnia
and Croatia
that was populated by Serbs. Also Montenegro had a significant presence of Serbs there, and its access to the sea kept Serbia from being landlocked and allowed for a navy to exist. The presence of Montenegro in union with Serbia also was in line with Serbian nationalists who believed that Montenegrins did not constitute a nationality of their own but were a sub-group of Serbs. Over time, the domineering nature of Serbian President Milosevic in the federation caused Montenegrins to begin to desire independence. Strain with Serbia over economic policy caused Montenegro to adopt the Deutsche Mark in 1996, while waiting for the European Community to formalize a European currency. After Bulatovic stepped down as Montenegrin president in 1998, the new president Milo Đukanović opposed Milosevic (now Yugoslav President) and set Montenegro on a course to independence.
in 2003, which the republic would briefly be in until it separated from the union in 2006.
Serbia and Montenegro
Serbia and Montenegro was a country in southeastern Europe, formed from two former republics of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia : Serbia and Montenegro. Following the breakup of Yugoslavia, it was established in 1992 as a federation called the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia...
(known as Serbia and Montenegro after 2003) between 1992 and 2006. The declaration of independence of Montenegro
Montenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
in 2006, brought about the collapse of the state union with Serbia.
After the collapse of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was the Yugoslav state that existed from the abolition of the Yugoslav monarchy until it was dissolved in 1992 amid the Yugoslav Wars. It was a socialist state and a federation made up of six socialist republics: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia,...
(SFRY), the remaining republics of Montenegro and Serbia agreed to the formation of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) which officially abandoned communism and endorsed democratic institutions. Montenegro was a constituent republic of the FRY until 2003, when the FRY was reconstituted as the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro in which Montenegro separated in 2006, becoming an independent country.
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Upon entry into the FRY, Montenegro was led by President Momir Bulatovic
Momir Bulatovic
Momir Bulatović , formerly served as a Yugoslavian and Montenegrin politician. Bulatović became federal President of Montenegro while Montenegro was part of a Yugoslav federation, and also Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia...
a former member of the Communist party in Yugoslavia and a supporter of Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic
Slobodan Milošević
Slobodan Milošević was President of Serbia and Yugoslavia. He served as the President of Socialist Republic of Serbia and Republic of Serbia from 1989 until 1997 in three terms and as President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia from 1997 to 2000...
, whom Bulatovic helped gain power during the Anti-Bureaucratic Revolution
Anti-bureaucratic revolution
Anti-bureaucratic revolution as a term, refers to a series of mass protests against governments of Yugoslavian republics and autonomous provinces during 1988 and 1989, which led to resignations of leaderships of Kosovo, Vojvodina and Montenegro, and the capture of power by politicians close to...
, in which Bulatovic and then Milosevic gained power in their respective republics. In the final years of the SFRY's existence, Bulatovic had supported Milosevic's demands for a "one-member, one-vote" system in the Communist party congress which would have given numerical superiority to the Serbs in the congress. This fostered the collapse of the Communist party and later the SFRY. Bulatovic began to show reluctance to remaining in a union with Serbia when countries like Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
offered Montenegro the possibility of quick access into the European Community if Montenegro separated from Yugoslavia. However Bulatovic's brief endorsement of Montenegrin independence ended due to pressure from Serbia. In 1992, Bulatovic agreed to joining the FRY, after which Montenegro abandoned its Communist infrastructure and became a democracy. In 1992, the capital of Titograd (named after former Yugoslav leader Joseph Broz Tito) was renamed to its pre-communist name of Podgorica
Podgorica
Podgorica , is the capital and largest city of Montenegro.Podgorica's favourable position at the confluence of the Ribnica and Morača rivers and the meeting point of the fertile Zeta Plain and Bjelopavlići Valley has encouraged settlement...
and a year later Montenegro abandoned its former Communist-era flag, and adopted a plain tricolour, similar to Serbia's but with a brighter blue for its centre stripe and the flag was longer than that of Serbia's, marking a distinction between the two republics which had exactly the same flag during the Communist era.
Montenegro remaining in union with Serbia was important for a number of reasons. The first was that Montenegro's union with Serbia provided the only legitimacy to the continuation of a Yugoslav state, and it's union was important to Serbia in that the continuation of a Yugoslav state would allow the Serb-dominated federation to lay claim to former Yugoslav territory in Bosnia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
and Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
that was populated by Serbs. Also Montenegro had a significant presence of Serbs there, and its access to the sea kept Serbia from being landlocked and allowed for a navy to exist. The presence of Montenegro in union with Serbia also was in line with Serbian nationalists who believed that Montenegrins did not constitute a nationality of their own but were a sub-group of Serbs. Over time, the domineering nature of Serbian President Milosevic in the federation caused Montenegrins to begin to desire independence. Strain with Serbia over economic policy caused Montenegro to adopt the Deutsche Mark in 1996, while waiting for the European Community to formalize a European currency. After Bulatovic stepped down as Montenegrin president in 1998, the new president Milo Đukanović opposed Milosevic (now Yugoslav President) and set Montenegro on a course to independence.
Serbia and Montenegro
After the fall of Milosevic from power in 2000, Đukanović and the Montenegrin government put pressure on Serbia and the international community to demand an end to the rump Yugoslavia and that Montenegro would only be willing to be part of a loose confederation. These demands helped bring about the end of the FRY and created the looser State Union of Serbia and MontenegroSerbia and Montenegro
Serbia and Montenegro was a country in southeastern Europe, formed from two former republics of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia : Serbia and Montenegro. Following the breakup of Yugoslavia, it was established in 1992 as a federation called the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia...
in 2003, which the republic would briefly be in until it separated from the union in 2006.
See also
- Socialist Republic of MontenegroSocialist Republic of MontenegroSocialist Republic of Montenegro or SR Montenegro in shortened form, was a socialist state that was a constituent country in the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. It is a predecessor of the modern day Montenegro...
- Montenegro in the Yugoslav Wars