Montenegro

Background: The use of the name Montenegro began in the 15th century when the Crnojevic dynasty began to rule the Serbian principality of Zeta; over subsequent centuries Montenegro was able to maintain its independence from the Ottoman Empire. From the 16th to 19th centuries, Montenegro became a theocracy ruled by a series of bishop princes; in 1852, it was transformed into a secular principality. After World War I, Montenegro was absorbed by the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes, which became the Kingdom of Yugoslavia in 1929; at the conclusion of World War II, it became a constituent republic of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
Location: Southeastern Europe, between the Adriatic Sea and Serbia Area: total: 14,026 sq km. land: 13,812 sq km. Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Connecticut. Land boundaries: 625 km, border countries: Albania 172 km, Bosnia and Herzegovina 225 km, Croatia 25 km, Serbia 203 km.
Climate and Terrain: Climate: Mediterranean climate, hot dry summers and autumns and relatively cold winters with heavy snowfalls inland. Terrain: highly indented coastline with narrow coastal plain backed by rugged high limestone mountains and plateaus. Natural resources: bauxite, hydroelectricity.
People: Population: 630,548. Ethnic groups: Montenegrin 43%, Serbian 32%, Bosniak 8%, Albanian 5%, other (Muslims, Croats, Roma (Gypsy)) 12%. Religions: Serbian Orthodox, Muslim, Roman Catholic, Protestant . Languages: Serbian (official; Ijekavian dialect), Bosnian, Albanian, Croatian.
Government: Government type: Republic. Capital: Podgorica. Independence: 3 June 2006 (from Serbia and Montenegro).
Economy overview: On January 18, 2007, Montenegro joined the World Bank and IMF. Montenegro is pursuing its own membership in the World Trade Organization as well as negotiating a Stabilization and Association agreement with the European Union in anticipation of eventual membership. Severe unemployment remains a key political and economic problem for this entire region. Montenegro has privatized its large aluminum complex - the dominant industry - as well as most of its financial sector, and has begun to attract foreign direct investment in the tourism sector.
Statistics: Telephones - main lines in use: 177,663. Telephones - mobile cellular: 543,220. Radio broadcast stations: 31. Internet users: 50,000. Railways: Total: 41,135 km. Highways: Total: 7,353 km, paved: 4.274, unpaved: 3,0390 km. Airports - with paved runways: 3, with unpaved runways: 2