overned by
the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) since June
1999, under the authority of UN Security Council Resolution 1244,
pending a determination by the international community of its future
status. In 2002, the Serbian and Montenegrin components of
Yugoslavia began negotiations to forge a looser relationship. These
talks became a reality in February 2003 when lawmakers restructured
the country into a loose federation of two republics called Serbia
and Montenegro. The Constitutional Charter of Serbia and Montenegro
includes a provision that allows either republic to hold a
referendum after three years that would allow for their independence
from the state union.

Geography Serbia and Montenegro

Location:
Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea, between Albania
and Bosnia and Herzegovina

Geographic coordinates:
44 00 N, 21 00 E

Map references:
Europe

Area:
total: 102,350 sq km
water: 214 sq km
land: 102,136 sq km

Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Kentucky

Land boundaries:
total: 2,246 km
border countries: Albania 287 km, Bosnia and Herzegovina 527 km,
Bulgaria 318 km, Croatia (north) 241 km, Croatia (south) 25 km,
Hungary 151 km, Macedonia 221 km, Romania 476 km

Coastline:
199 km

Maritime claims:
NA

Climate:
in the north, continental climate (cold winters and hot, humid
summers with well distributed rainfall); central portion,
continental and Mediterranean climate; to the south, Adriatic
climate along the coast, hot, dry summers and autumns and relatively
cold winters with heavy snowfall inland

Terrain:
extremely varied; to the north, rich fertile plains; to the east,
limestone ranges and basins; to the southeast, ancient mountains and
hills; to the southwest, extremely high shoreline with no islands
off the coast

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m
highest point: Daravica 2,656 m

Natural resources:
oil, gas, coal, iron ore, bauxite, copper, lead, zinc, antimony,
chromite, nickel, gold, silver, magnesium, pyrite, limestone,
marble, salt, hydropower, arable land

Land use:
arable land: 33.35%
permanent crops: 3.2%
other: 63.45% (2001)

Irrigated land:
570 sq km

Natural hazards:
destructive earthquakes

Environment - current issues:
pollution of coastal waters from sewage outlets, especially in
tourist-related areas such as