Montenegro

Montenegro is a small country in Southeast Europe, located on the Balkan Peninsula. It has a coastline along the Adriatic Sea.

The capital city is Podgorica. The country has a long history and was ruled by different empires over time.

Montenegro became independent in 2006. It is working to join the European Union and is part of groups like the United Nations and NATO.

Etymology

The name "Montenegro" means "Black Mountain." It comes from how Mount Lovćen looks when it is covered in dark green forests. People started using this name a long time ago. It became the country's official name in 2007. In other languages, the country has different names, like "Mali i Zi" in Albanian.

History

Main article: History of Montenegro

Antiquity

Modern-day Montenegro was part of Illyria and was home to the Indo-European-speaking Illyrians. The Illyrian kingdom was taken over by the Roman Republic and became part of the province of Illyricum.

Arrival of the Slavs

Three areas called principalities were in this land: Duklja, Travunia, and Raška. Duklja became free from the Byzantine Empire in 1042. It grew bigger and was named a kingdom. But its strength lessened in the 12th century.

Early modern period

From 1392, some parts were ruled by the Republic of Venice, such as the city of Budva. Many areas were controlled by the Ottoman Empire from 1496 to 1878. In the 1500s, Montenegro had its own special way of ruling inside the Ottoman Empire.

Principality and Kingdom of Montenegro

In 1858, Montenegro won a big battle against the Ottomans at the Battle of Grahovac. In the Battle of Vučji Do, Montenegrins beat the Ottoman Army. The Ottoman Empire agreed that Montenegro was independent in the Treaty of Berlin in 1878.

Kingdom of Yugoslavia

In 1922, Montenegro officially became the Oblast of Cetinje in the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes. In 1929, it joined a larger Zeta Banate in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia.

World War II and Socialist Yugoslavia

In April 1941, Nazi Germany, the Kingdom of Italy, and other Axis allies attacked and took over the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. Italian forces controlled Montenegro. In May, the Montenegrin Communist Party began planning to fight back. The fight grew, and many joined by July. It continued until mid-August.

Montenegro became one of the six parts of the communist Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Its capital was Podgorica, later called Titograd for President Josip Broz Tito.

Montenegro within FR Yugoslavia

After the SFRY ended in 1992, Montenegro stayed with Serbia in a smaller country called the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

Independence

The union of Montenegro and Serbia was decided by a referendum on Montenegrin independence on 21 May 2006. On 3 June 2006, Montenegro declared independence. On 28 June 2006, Montenegro joined the United Nations as its 192nd member.

Recent history

Montenegro became a member of NATO in June 2017. It has been talking with the EU since 2012. In March 2023, Jakov Milatovic won the election for president. The Europe Now movement got the most seats in the 2023 Montenegrin parliamentary election. On 31 October 2023, Milojko Spajic became the new prime minister.

Geography

Main article: Geography of Montenegro

Montenegro has tall mountains along its borders with Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, and Serbia. It also has a small coastal area along the Adriatic Sea, which is only 1.5 to 6 kilometres (1 to 4 miles) wide. The land rises sharply in the north, where Mount Lovćen and Mount Orjen stand near the beautiful Bay of Kotor.

The country has many rugged mountains, with some reaching over 2,000 metres (6,600 feet). One famous peak is Bobotov Kuk in the Durmitor mountains, and another is Zla Kolata in the Prokletije mountains. Montenegro is also home to several national parks, which help protect its many plants and animals. These parks include Durmitor National Park, Biogradska Gora National Park, Lovćen National Park, Lake Skadar National Park, and Prokletije National Park.

Montenegro has a great variety of plants and animals because of its different landscapes and climates. It has many types of birds, fish, and insects, as well as forests and mountains. The country has many protected areas, including five national parks, which help keep its nature safe.

Politics

Main article: Politics of Montenegro

Montenegro is a country where leaders are chosen by voting. It has a president and a prime minister. The president is chosen every five years and helps make big decisions. The prime minister leads the government, which works with different groups of leaders.

Montenegro has a group of leaders called a parliament. They make laws and help run the country. The people of Montenegro vote for these leaders, and they work in the city of Podgorica.

Administrative divisions

Main articles: Municipalities of Montenegro and List of regions of Montenegro

Montenegro is divided into twenty-five areas called municipalities. These areas include many towns and cities.

Regions of Montenegro—made for counting by the Statistical Office—do not run things. Some groups (like the Football Association of Montenegro) use different municipalities in similar regions.

• Northern Region

• Central Region

• Coastal Region

Foreign relations

See also: Foreign relations of Montenegro

Montenegro works with other countries to be friends and help each other. It joined a group of friendly countries called NATO in 2017. Montenegro hopes to join a bigger group of countries called the European Union later.

Law

Main article: Constitution of Montenegro

Montenegro has rules and laws to keep everyone safe and fair. The highest court makes sure these laws are followed. Leaders are chosen to protect people’s rights.

Law enforcement, security and emergency services

Main article: Police Directorate of Montenegro

Montenegro has police to keep people safe and solve problems. There are special teams for important jobs, like keeping borders safe. Doctors and firefighters help when people need quick care.

Military

Main article: Armed Forces of Montenegro

Montenegro has an army, navy, and air force. They work to protect the country and help keep peace in the world. Montenegro is part of NATO and works with other countries to keep everyone safe.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Montenegro

Montenegro's economy is mostly based on services and is changing to work more like a market economy. In 2019, the total value of goods and services produced in Montenegro was about $5.4 billion. This amount is smaller than in many other European countries, but it supports the country's population well.

Infrastructure

Main article: Transport in Montenegro

Montenegro's roads are not as modern as those in Western Europe, and there are no full motorways. Building new motorways is very important for the country's growth and for attracting tourists.

Montenegro has railways that connect it to Serbia and some smaller lines for local travel. The country also has two airports and a main port in Bar, which handles lots of cargo but has not been doing well recently. Plans are in place to improve these facilities.

Tourism

Main article: Tourism in Montenegro

In 2022, Montenegro welcomed about 2.1 million visitors who stayed for over 12 million nights. Many of these visitors came from nearby countries like Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Kosovo, as well as from Russia.

Montenegro's coast along the Adriatic Sea is very beautiful, with long beaches and old towns. Popular spots include Jaz Beach, Mogren Beach, Bečići Beach, Sveti Stefan Beach, and Velika Plaža. The old towns of Herceg Novi, Perast, Kotor, Budva, and Ulcinj are also very popular with tourists. Travel magazines have praised Montenegro as a wonderful place to visit.

Demographics

Main articles: Demographics of Montenegro and Demographic history of Montenegro

Montenegro is a country where many different ethnic groups live together. Over 600,000 people live there. The largest groups are Montenegrins and Serbs. There are also Bosniaks, Albanians, Russians, Romani people, Croats, Ukrainians, Belarusians, and Turks.

The official language of Montenegro is Montenegrin. But Serbian, Bosnian, Albanian, and Croatian are also used in official places. Many people speak Serbian or Montenegrin. Other languages spoken include Bosnian, Albanian, and Russian.

Most people in Montenegro follow Christianity, mainly Eastern Orthodox Christianity. Some people practice Islam. There are also Catholics, Protestants, and people with no religious affiliation. Montenegro is known for respecting different religions and beliefs. Religious groups have their own rights and are separate from the government.

Culture

Main article: Culture of Montenegro

Montenegrin culture has been shaped by many different influences, including Orthodox, Ottoman, Slavic, Central European, and seafaring Adriatic cultures. The country has many important historical sites, such as churches and monasteries with beautiful paintings. One famous tradition is the folk dance called the Oro, where people dance in circles and end by standing on each other's shoulders to form a pyramid.

Media

Main article: Media of Montenegro

Montenegro has many television, magazine, and newspaper outlets run by both the government and private companies. The Constitution guarantees freedom of speech. One popular private news channel is Vijesti, while the government runs Radio and Television of Montenegro, which also broadcasts news in Albanian.

Sport

Main article: Sport in Montenegro

Sport in Montenegro is mostly about team games like water polo, football, basketball, handball, and volleyball. Other sports include boxing, tennis, swimming, judo, karate, athletics, table tennis, and chess. Water polo is the most popular sport and is considered the national sport. The Montenegro men's water polo team has won important competitions. Montenegro came fourth in the men's water polo at the 2016 Olympics.

Football is the second most popular sport. The Montenegro national football team started in 2006. The Montenegro national basketball team has performed well and won many medals. Montenegro joined the International Basketball Federation in 2006.

Among women's sports, the national handball team has won the country's first Olympic medal. They also won the 2012 European Championship. Montenegro was one of the host countries for the 2022 European Women's Handball Championship.

Cuisine

Main article: Montenegrin cuisine

Montenegrin food has been influenced by many cultures, including from the Levant and Turkey, which brought dishes like sarma, musaka, pilav, pita, gibanica, burek, ćevapi, kebab, and sweets such as baklava and tulumba. Central European foods like crêpes, doughnuts, and cakes are also common. The coastal area has a Mediterranean style of cooking, with lots of seafood.