Difference between revisions of "Principality of Montenegro (Italian Empire)"

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'''Montenegro''' , officially the '''Principality of Montenegro''', is a country of [[Southern Europe|South]] and [[Southeast Europe]] on the coast of the [[Balkans]]. It borders [[Bosnia and Herzegovina|Bosnia-Herzegovina]] to the northwest, [[Serbia]] to the northeast, [[Kosovo]]{{efn|name=status}} to the east, [[Albania]] to the southeast, the [[Adriatic Sea]] to the southwest, and [[Croatia]] to the west. Montenegro has an area of 13,812 square kilometres and a population of 620,079 (2011 census). Its capital, [[Podgorica]], is one of the twenty-three municipalities in the country. [[Cetinje]] is designated as the Old Royal Capital.
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'''Montenegro''' , officially the '''Principality of Montenegro''', is a Realm of the [[Italian Empire (Kingdom of Italy)|Italian Empire]] of South Europe on the coast of the Balkans. It borders Yugoslavia to the North, Albania to the the Southest and to the East, the Adriatic Sea to the southwest. Montenegro has an area of 13,812 square kilometres and a population of 620,079 (2011 census). Its capital, Podgorizza, is one of the twenty-three municipalities in the country. Cettigne is designated as the Old Royal Capital.
 
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During the [[Early Medieval]] period, three principalities were located on the territory of modern-day Montenegro: [[Duklja]], roughly corresponding to the southern half; [[Travunia]], the west; and [[Principality of Serbia (early medieval)|Rascia]] proper, the north.<ref name=Luscombe>{{cite book |author1=David Luscombe |author2=Jonathan Riley-Smith |title=The New Cambridge Medieval History: Volume 4, c. 1024{{snd}}c. 1198|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cUl53tLtFukC&pg=PA267|date= 2004|publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]] | pages=266–|isbn=9780521414111 }}</ref><ref name=Sedlar>{{cite book |author1=Jean W Sedlar |title=East Central Europe in the Middle Ages, 1000–1500 |url=https://books.google.com/?id=4NYTCgAAQBAJ&lpg=PP1&dq=East%20Central%20Europe%20in%20the%20Middle%20Ages%2C%201000-1500&pg=PA32 |publisher=[[University of Washington Press]] |pages=21–|isbn=9780295800646 |date=2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author1=John Van Antwerp Fine |title=he early medieval Balkans: a critical survey from the sixth to the late twelfth century |url=https://books.google.com/?id=RSNpAAAAMAAJ&q=raska+duklja+serbian+principality&dq=raska+duklja+serbian+principality |publisher=[[University of Michigan Press]] |page=194|isbn=9780472100255 |year=1983 }}</ref> In 1042, ''[[archon]]'' [[Stefan Vojislav]] led a revolt that resulted in the independence of Duklja from the [[Byzantine Empire]] and the establishment of the [[Vojislavljević dynasty]]. After being ruled by the [[Nemanjić dynasty]] for two centuries, the independent [[Zeta under the Balšići|Principality of Zeta]] emerged in the 14th and 15th centuries, ruled by the [[House of Balšić]] between 1356 and 1421, and by the [[House of Crnojević]] between 1431 and 1498, when the name Montenegro started being used for the country. After falling under [[Montenegro Vilayet|Ottoman rule]], Montenegro regained ''de facto'' independence in 1697 under the rule of the [[House of Petrović-Njegoš]], first under the theocratic rule of [[Prince-Bishopric of Montenegro|prince-bishops]], before being transformed into a secular [[Principality of Montenegro|principality]] in 1852. Montenegro's ''[[de jure]]'' independence was recognised by the [[Great Powers]] at the [[Congress of Berlin]] in 1878, following the [[Montenegrin–Ottoman War (1876–78)|Montenegrin–Ottoman War]]. In 1905, the country became a [[Kingdom of Montenegro|kingdom]]. After [[World War I]], it became part of [[Yugoslavia]]. Following the [[breakup of Yugoslavia]], the republics of [[Republic of Serbia (1992–2006)|Serbia]] and [[Republic of Montenegro (1992–2006)|Montenegro]] together established a federation known as the [[Serbia and Montenegro|Federal Republic of Yugoslavia]], which was renamed to the [[Serbia and Montenegro|State Union of Serbia and Montenegro]] in 2003. On the basis of an [[Montenegrin independence referendum, 2006|independence referendum]] held in May 2006, Montenegro declared independence and the federation peacefully dissolved on 3 June of that year, ending a nearly 88-year union between the two states.<ref>[https://www.irishtimes.com/news/serbia-ends-union-with-montenegro-1.785687 Serbia ends union with Montenegro<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
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Since 1990, the state of Montenegro has been governed by the [[Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro|Democratic Party of Socialists]] and its minor coalition partners. Classified by the [[World Bank]] as an upper middle-income country, Montenegro is a member of the UN, [[NATO]], the [[World Trade Organization]], the [[Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe]], the [[Council of Europe]], and the [[Central European Free Trade Agreement]]. It is a founding member of the [[Union for the Mediterranean]].
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== Etymology ==
 
== Etymology ==
 
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The country's English name derives from Venetian and translates as "Black Mountain". The native name ''Crna Gora,'' also meaning "black mountain," came to denote the majority of contemporary Montenegro in the 15th century.
The country's English name derives from [[Venetian language|Venetian]] and translates as "Black Mountain", deriving from the appearance of [[Lovćen|Mount Lovćen]] when covered in dense evergreen forests.<ref name="visit-montenegro">{{cite web |title=Montenegro History – Part I |url=https://www.visit-montenegro.com/montenegro/history/ |website=visit-montenegro.com |accessdate=27 June 2018}}</ref> In the monuments of [[Kotor]], Montenegro was mentioned as Montenegro in 1397, as Monte Nigro in 1443 and as Crna Gora in 1435 and 1458, but there are much older papers of Latin sources where Montenegro is mentioned as Monte nigro. The first mention of Montenegro (as Monte nigro) dates to 9 November 1053 in a papal epistle and the others date to 1061, 1097, 1121, 1125, 1144, 1154, 1179 and 1189.<ref name="maticacrnogorska">{{cite web  |title=PRVI POMENI CRNE GORE - Marijan Mašo Miljić |url=http://www.maticacrnogorska.me/matica67.html |website=www.maticacrnogorska.me}}</ref>
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The native name ''Crna Gora,'' also meaning "black mountain," came to denote the majority of contemporary Montenegro in the 15th century.<ref name=Fine532>{{harvnb|Fine|1994|p=532}}</ref> Originally, it had referred to only a small strip of land under the rule of the [[Paštrovići]], but the name eventually came to be used for the wider mountainous region after the [[Crnojević noble family]] took power in [[Upper Zeta]].<ref name=Fine532 /> The aforementioned region became known as ''Stara Crna Gora'' '[[Old Montenegro]]' by the 19th century to distinguish the independent region from the neighbouring Ottoman-occupied Montenegrin territory of ''Brda'' '(The) Highlands'. Montenegro further increased its size several times by the 20th century, as the result of wars against the [[Ottoman Empire]], which saw the annexation of [[Old Herzegovina]] and parts of [[Metohija]] and southern [[Raška (region)|Raška]]. Its borders have changed little since then, losing [[Metohija]] and gaining the [[Bay of Kotor]].
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After the second session of the [[Anti-Fascist Council for the National Liberation of Yugoslavia|AVNOJ]] during [[World War II in Yugoslavia]], the modern state of Montenegro was founded as the ''[[Federal State of Montenegro]]'' ([[Montenegrin language|Montenegrin]]: Савезна држава Црне Горе / ''Savezna država Crne Gore'') on 15 November 1943 within the [[Democratic Federal Yugoslavia]] by the [[State Anti-fascist Council for the National Liberation of Montenegro and Boka|ZAVNOCGB]]. After Democratic Federal Yugoslavia became the [[Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia]] (FPRY), the Federal State of Montenegro was renamed to the ''[[People's Republic of Montenegro]]'' ([[Montenegrin language|Montenegrin]]: Народна Република Црна Гора / ''Narodna Republika Crna Gora'') on 29 November 1945. In 1963, the FPRY was renamed to the [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia]] and coincidentally, the People's Republic of Montenegro was renamed to the ''[[Socialist Republic of Montenegro]]''  ([[Montenegrin language|Montenegrin]]: Социјалистичка Република Црна Гора / ''Socijalistička Republika Crna Gora''). As the [[breakup of Yugoslavia]] occurred, the SRCG was renamed to the ''[[Republic of Montenegro]]'' ([[Montenegrin language|Montenegrin]]: Република Црна Гора / ''Republika Crna Gora'') on 27 April 1992 within the [[Federal Republic of Yugoslavia]] by removing the adjective "socialist" from the republic's title. This name was briefly kept after declaration of independence. Since 22 October 2007, upon adopting the constitution, the name of the country became simply known as ''Montenegro''.
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The [[ISO 3166-1 alpha-2|ISO Alpha-2]] code for Montenegro is ME and the [[ISO 3166-1 alpha-3|Alpha-3 Code]] is MNE.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iso.org/iso/en/prods-services/iso3166ma/03updates-on-iso-3166/nlv12-div.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080820140547/http://www.iso.org/iso/en/prods-services/iso3166ma/03updates-on-iso-3166/nlv12-div.html|url-status=dead|title=ISO 3166-1 Newsletter No. V-12, Date: 26 September 2006|archivedate=20 August 2008}}</ref>
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== History ==
 
== History ==
{{Main|History of Montenegro}}
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During the Early Medieval period, three principalities were located on the territory of modern-day Montenegro. In 1042, Stefano Vojislav led a revolt that resulted in the independence of Duklja from the Byzantine Empire and the establishment of his dynasty. The independent Principality of Zeta emerged in the 14th and 15th centuries. After falling under Ottoman domination, Montenegro regained ''de facto'' independence in 1697 under the rule of the House of Petrović-Njegoš. Montenegro's ''[[de jure]]'' independence was recognised at the Congress of Berlin in 1878. In 1905, the country became a Kingdom. After World War I, it became part of Yugoslavia.  
<!-- Please note that the history section is already quite large, info should be added to the History of Montenegro page, and that other sections in this article need expanding -->
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=== Arrival of the Slavs ===
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{{Main|Duklja|Principality of Zeta|Tribes of Montenegro}}
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[[File:South-Eastern Europe, ca. 1090, by User-Hxseek.png|thumb|left|[[Duklja|Kingdom of Duklja]] in the zenith of power, 1080 AD]]
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In the 9th century, three [[Slavs|Slavic]] principalities were located on the territory of Montenegro: [[Duklja]], roughly corresponding to the southern half, [[Travunia]], the west, and [[Principality of Serbia (medieval)|Rascia]], the north.<ref name=Luscombe /><ref name=Sedlar /> Duklja gained its independence from the Byzantine Roman Empire in 1042. Over the next few decades, it expanded its territory to neighbouring Rascia and Bosnia, and also became recognised as a kingdom. Its power started declining at the beginning of the 12th century. After King Bodin's death (in 1101 or 1108), several civil wars ensued. Duklja reached its zenith under Vojislav's son, [[Mihailo I of Duklja|Mihailo]] (1046–81), and his grandson [[Constantine Bodin]] (1081–1101).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.montenegro.org/duklja.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970116032145/http://www.montenegro.org/duklja.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=16 January 1997 |title=Duklja, the first Montenegrin state |publisher=Montenegro.org |accessdate=7 December 2012}}</ref>
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[[File:Устанак Црногораца.jpg|thumb|upright|Uprising against the [[Ottoman Empire]], 1878, painted by [[Đura Jakšić]]]]
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By the 13th century, ''Zeta'' had replaced ''Duklja'' when referring to the realm. In the late 14th century, southern Montenegro ([[Lordship of Zeta|Zeta]]) came under the rule of the [[Balšić noble family]], then the [[Crnojević noble family]], and by the 15th century, Zeta was more often referred to as ''Crna Gora'' ([[Venetian language|Venetian]]: ''{{lang|vec|monte negro}}'').
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As the nobility fought for the throne, the kingdom was weakened, and by 1186, it was conquered by [[Stefan Nemanja]] and incorporated into the [[History of Serbia|Serbian realm]] as a province named Zeta. After the [[Serbian Empire]] collapsed in the second half of the 14th century, the most powerful Zetan family, the [[Balšić]]s, became sovereigns of Zeta.
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In 1421, Zeta was annexed to the [[Serbian Despotate]], but after 1455, another noble family from Zeta, the [[Crnojević]]s, became sovereign rulers of the country, making it the last free monarchy of the Balkans before it fell to the [[Ottomans]] in 1496, and got annexed to the ''[[sanjak]]'' of [[Shkodër]]. During the reign of Crnojevićs, Zeta became known under its current name&nbsp;– Montenegro. For a short time, Montenegro existed as a separate autonomous ''sanjak'' in 1514–1528 ([[Sanjak of Montenegro]]). Also, [[Old Herzegovina]] region was part of [[Sanjak of Herzegovina]].
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=== Ottoman period ===
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{{Main|Prince-Bishopric of Montenegro}}
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| footer = '''Left:''' [[Petar I Petrović-Njegoš]] was the most popular spiritual and military leader from the [[Petrović dynasty]]. <br />'''Right:''' [[Petar II Petrović-Njegoš]] was a [[List of rulers of Montenegro|Prince-Bishop]] (''vladika'') of Montenegro and the national poet and philosopher, Oil painting of Njegoš as vladika, c. [[1837]]| width1 = 150
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Large portions fell under the control of the [[Ottoman Empire]] from 1496 to 1878. In the 16th century, Montenegro developed a unique form of autonomy within the Ottoman Empire permitting Montenegrin clans freedom from certain restrictions. Nevertheless, the Montenegrins were disgruntled with Ottoman rule, and in the 17th century, raised numerous rebellions, which culminated in the defeat of the Ottomans in the [[Great Turkish War]] at the end of that century.
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Montenegro consisted of territories controlled by warlike clans. Most clans had a chieftain (''knez''), who was not permitted to assume the title unless he proved to be as worthy a leader as his predecessor. The great assembly of Montenegrin clans (''Zbor'') was held every year on 12 July in Cetinje, and any adult clansman could take part.{{citation needed|date=July 2016}}
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Parts of the territory were controlled by [[Republic of Venice]] and the [[First French Empire]] and [[Austria-Hungary]], its successors. In 1515, Montenegro became a [[theocracy]] led by the [[Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral]], which flourished after the [[Petrović-Njegoš]] of Cetinje became the traditional prince-bishops (whose title was "Vladika of Montenegro"). However, the [[Venetian Republic]] introduced governors who meddled in Montenegrin politics. The republic was succeeded by the [[Austrian Empire]] in 1797, and the governors were abolished by Prince-Bishop [[Petar II Petrović-Njegoš|Petar II]] in 1832. His predecessor [[Petar I Petrović-Njegoš|Petar I]] contributed to the unification of Montenegro with the Highlands.{{citation needed|date=July 2016}}
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=== Principality and Kingdom of Montenegro===
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{{Main|Principality of Montenegro|Kingdom of Montenegro}}
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[[File:Battle of Vučji Do, Orao, 1877.jpg|thumb|[[Battle of Vučji Do]], 1876]]
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Under [[Nicholas I of Montenegro|Nicholas I]] (ruled 1860-1918), the [[principality]] was enlarged several times in the Montenegro-Turkish Wars and was recognised as independent in 1878. Nicholas I established diplomatic relations with the Ottoman Empire. Minor border skirmishes excepted, diplomacy ushered in about 30 years of peace between the two states until the deposition of [[Abdul Hamid II]] in 1909.<ref name="ttk.gov.tr">Uğur Özcan, [http://www.ttk.gov.tr/index.php?Page=Yayinlar&KitapNo=989 II. Abdülhamid Dönemi Osmanlı-Karadağ Siyasi İlişkileri] (Political relations between the Ottoman Empire and Montenegro in the Abdul Hamid II era) Türk Tarih Kurumu, Ankara 2013. {{ISBN|9789751625274}}</ref>
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The political skills of Abdul Hamid II and Nicholas I played a major role in the mutually amicable relations.<ref name="ttk.gov.tr" /> Modernization of the state followed, culminating with the draft of a Constitution in 1905. However, political rifts emerged between the reigning [[People's Party of Montenegro|People's Party]], who supported the process of democratization and union with Serbia, and those of the [[True People's Party]], who were monarchist.
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In 1858 one of the major Montenegrin victories over the Ottomans occurred at the
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[[Battle of Grahovac]]. [[Mirko Petrović Njegoš|Grand Duke Mirko Petrović]], elder brother of [[Knjaz Danilo]], led an army of 7,500 and defeated the numerically superior Ottomans (who had 15,000 troops) at [[Grahovac]] on 1 May 1858. The glory of Montenegrin victory was soon immortalized in the songs and literature of all the South Slavs, in particular the Montenegrins in Vojvodina,{{citation needed|date= June 2019}} then part of [[Austria-Hungary]]. This forced the [[Great Powers]] to officially demarcate the borders between Montenegro and Ottoman Empire, ''de facto'' recognizing Montenegro's independence. The Ottoman Empire recognized Montenegrin independence in the [[Treaty of Berlin (1878)|Treaty of Berlin]] in 1878.
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The first Montenegrin constitution (also known as the Danilo Code) was proclaimed in 1855.
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[[File:Kralj i kraljica u krugu sire familije.jpg|thumb|[[Petrović-Njegoš dynasty|Royal family of Montenegro]]: King [[Nikola I Petrović-Njegoš|Nicholas I]] with his wife, sons, daughters, grandchildren and sons- and daughters-in-law]]
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In 1910 Montenegro became [[Kingdom of Montenegro|a kingdom]], and as a result of the [[Balkan wars]] in 1912 and 1913 (in which the Ottomans lost most of their Balkan lands), a common border with Serbia was established, with [[Shkodër]] being awarded to a newly-created [[Albania]], though the current capital city of Montenegro, Podgorica, was on the old border of Albania and Yugoslavia.
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Montenegro became one of the [[Allies of World War I|Allied Powers]] during [[World War I]] (1914–18). From 1916 to October 1918 Austria-Hungary occupied Montenegro. During the occupation, King Nicholas fled the country and a government-in-exile was set up in [[Bordeaux]].
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=== Kingdom of Yugoslavia ===
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{{Main|Kingdom of Yugoslavia}}
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In 1922, Montenegro formally became the [[Oblast of Cetinje]] in the [[Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes]], with the addition of the coastal areas around [[Budva]] and [[Bay of Kotor]]. In a further restructuring in 1929, it became a part of a larger [[Zeta Banovina|Zeta Banate]] of the [[Kingdom of Yugoslavia]] that reached the [[Neretva]] River.
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Nicholas's grandson, the Serb King [[Alexander I of Yugoslavia|Alexander I]], dominated the Yugoslav government. Zeta Banovina was one of nine banovinas which formed the kingdom; it consisted of the present-day Montenegro and parts of Serbia, Croatia, and Bosnia.
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=== World War II and Socialist Yugoslavia===
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{{Main|Italian governorate of Montenegro|Socialist Republic of Montenegro}}
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[[File:Crna Gora - Oslobodjenje od strane okupacije 1711-1918.png|thumb|left|Expansion of Montenegro from 1711 to 1918]]
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In April 1941, [[Nazi Germany]], the [[Kingdom of Italy]], and other Axis allies attacked and occupied the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. Italian forces occupied Montenegro and established it as a puppet [[Italian governorate of Montenegro|Kingdom of Montenegro]].
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In May, the Montenegrin branch of the Communist Party of Yugoslavia started preparations for an uprising planned for mid-July. The Communist Party and its Youth League organised 6,000 of its members into detachments prepared for [[guerrilla warfare]]. The first armed uprising in [[Nazi Germany|Nazi]]-occupied Europe happened on 13 July 1941 in Montenegro.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2010&mm=07&dd=13&nav_category=167&nav_id=445290 |title=Prema oceni istoričara, Trinaestojulski ustanak bio je prvi i najmasovniji oružani otpor u porobljenoj Evropi 1941. godine |publisher=B92.net |language=Serbian |accessdate=7 December 2012}}</ref>
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Unexpectedly, the uprising took hold, and by 20 July, 32,000 men and women had joined the fight. Except for the coast and major towns (Podgorica, Cetinje, Pljevlja, and Nikšić), which were besieged, Montenegro was mostly liberated. In a month of fighting, the Italian army suffered 5,000 dead, wounded, and captured. The uprising lasted until mid-August, when it was suppressed by a counter-offensive of 67,000 Italian troops brought in from Albania. Faced with new and overwhelming Italian forces, many of the fighters laid down their arms and returned home. Nevertheless, intense guerrilla fighting lasted until December.
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[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-185-0116-27A, Bucht von Kotor (-), jugoslawische Schiffe.jpg|thumb|Captured ships of the [[Royal Yugoslav Navy|Yugoslavian Navy]], [[Bay of Kotor]] 1941.]]
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[[File:Borbe_za_oslobođenje_Crne_Gore.jpg|thumb|Liberation of Montenegro in World War II]]
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Fighters who remained under arms fractured into two groups. Most of them went on to join the Yugoslav Partisans, consisting of communists and those inclined towards active resistance; these included [[Arso Jovanović]], [[Sava Kovačević (Yugoslav Partisan)|Sava Kovačević]], [[Svetozar Vukmanović-Tempo]], [[Milovan Đilas]], [[Peko Dapčević]], [[Vlado Dapčević]], [[Veljko Vlahović]], and [[Blažo Jovanović]]. Those loyal to the [[Karađorđević dynasty]] and opposing communism went on to become [[Chetniks]], and turned to collaboration with Italians against the Partisans.
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War broke out between Partisans and Chetniks during the first half of 1942. Pressured by Italians and Chetniks, the core of the Montenegrin Partisans went to Serbia and Bosnia, where they joined with other Yugoslav Partisans. Fighting between Partisans and Chetniks continued through the war. Chetniks with Italian backing controlled most of the country from mid-1942 to April 1943. Montenegrin Chetniks received the status of "anti-communist militia" and received weapons, ammunition, food rations, and money from Italy. Most of them were moved to [[Mostar]], where they fought in the [[Battle of Neretva]] against the Partisans, but were dealt a heavy defeat.
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During the German operation Schwartz against the Partisans in May and June 1943, Germans disarmed large number of Chetniks without fighting, as they feared they would turn against them in case of an Allied invasion of the Balkans. After the capitulation of Italy in September 1943, Partisans managed to take hold of most of Montenegro for a brief time, but Montenegro was soon [[German occupied territory of Montenegro|occupied by German forces]], and fierce fighting continued during late 1943 and entire 1944. Montenegro was liberated by the Partisans in December 1944.
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Montenegro became one of the six constituent republics of the communist [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia]] (SFRY). Its capital became Podgorica, renamed [[Titograd]] in honour of President [[Josip Broz Tito]]. After the war, the infrastructure of Yugoslavia was rebuilt, industrialization began, and the [[University of Montenegro]] was established. Greater autonomy was established until the [[Socialist Republic of Montenegro]] ratified a new constitution in 1974.{{citation needed|date=July 2016}}
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=== Montenegro within FR Yugoslavia ===
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{{Main|Serbia and Montenegro|Republic of Montenegro (1992–2006)}}
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After the dissolution of the SFRY in 1992, Montenegro remained part of a smaller [[Federal Republic of Yugoslavia]] along with Serbia.
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In the [[Montenegrin independence referendum, 1992|referendum on remaining in Yugoslavia in 1992]], the turnout was 66%, with 96% of the votes cast in favour of the federation with Serbia. The referendum was [[boycott]]ed by the Muslim, Albanian, and Catholic minorities, as well as the pro-independence Montenegrins. The opponents claimed that the poll was organized under anti-[[Democracy|democratic conditions]] with widespread propaganda from the state-controlled media in favour of a pro-federation vote. No impartial report on the fairness of the referendum was made, as it was unmonitored, unlike in a later 2006 referendum when [[European Union]] observers were present.
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During the 1991–1995 [[Bosnian War]] and [[Croatian War]], Montenegrin police and military forces joined Serbian troops in the attacks on [[Dubrovnik]], Croatia.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.croatiatraveller.com/southern_dalmatia/Dubrovnik/bombing.html |title=Bombing of Dubrovnik |publisher=Croatiatraveller.com |accessdate=7 December 2012}}</ref> These operations, aimed at acquiring more territory, were characterized by a consistent pattern of large-scale violations of human rights.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.un.org/documents/ga/res/47/a47r121.htm |title=A/RES/47/121. The situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina |publisher=United Nations |accessdate=7 December 2012}}</ref>
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Montenegrin General [[Pavle Strugar]] was convicted for his part in the bombing of Dubrovnik.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yihr.org/uploads/newsletters/eng/28.pdf|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403105152/http://www.yihr.org/uploads/newsletters/eng/28.pdf|url-status=dead|title=YIHR.org|archivedate=3 April 2015}}</ref>
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Bosnian refugees were arrested by Montenegrin police and transported to Serb camps in Foča, where they were subjected to systematic torture and executed.<ref>[http://www.ess.uwe.ac.uk/comexpert/ANX/VIII-03.htm#III.A.25 Annex VIII – part 3/10 Prison Camps]. ess.uwe.ac.uk {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020191517/http://www.ess.uwe.ac.uk/comexpert/ANX/VIII-03.htm#III.A.25|date=20 October 2013}}</ref><ref>"Porodica Nedžiba Loje o Njegovom Hapšenju i Deportaciji 1992". ''Godine'' [http://bosnjaci.net/aktuelno.php?id=4311 Bosnjaci.net] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012182522/http://bosnjaci.net/aktuelno.php?id=4311 |date=12 October 2007 }}<!--What is this source? The link is dead.--></ref>
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[[File:Independent montenegro.jpg|thumb|Supporters of Montenegrin independence in [[Cetinje]]]]
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In 1996, [[Milo Đukanović]]'s government severed ties between Montenegro and its partner Serbia, which was led by [[Slobodan Milošević]]. Montenegro formed its own [[economic policy]] and adopted the German [[Deutsche Mark]] as its currency and subsequently [[Montenegro and the euro|adopted the euro]], although not part of the [[Eurozone]] [[currency union]]. Subsequent governments pursued pro-independence policies, and political tensions with Serbia simmered despite the political changes in [[Belgrade]]. Targets in Montenegro were bombed by NATO forces during [[Operation Allied Force]] in 1999, although the extent of these attacks was very limited in both time and area affected.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/331036.stm |title=Russia pushes peace plan |publisher=BBC |date=29 April 1999}}</ref>
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In 2002, Serbia and Montenegro came to a new agreement for continued cooperation and entered into negotiations regarding the future status of the [[Federal Republic of Yugoslavia]]. This resulted in the Belgrade Agreement, which saw the country's transformation into a more decentralised state union named [[Serbia and Montenegro]] in 2003. The Belgrade Agreement also contained a provision delaying any future referendum on the independence of Montenegro for at least three years.
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=== Independence and recent history ===
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{{Main|Serbia and Montenegro|Montenegrin independence referendum, 2006}}
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{{See also|2019–20 Montenegrin crisis}}
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[[File:Secretary Kerry Poses With Montenegrin Prime Minister Djukanovic, NATO Secretary-General Stoltenberg, and Fellow NATO Foreign Ministers for a Family Photo at NATO Headquarters in Brussels (27080758736).jpg|thumb|[[NATO]] Secretary General [[Jens Stoltenberg]] with allies after signing protocol on Montenegro's accession to [[NATO]]]]
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The status of the union between Montenegro and Serbia was decided by a [[Montenegrin independence referendum, 2006|referendum on Montenegrin independence]] on 21 May 2006. A total of 419,240 votes were cast, representing 86.5% of the total electorate; 230,661 votes (55.5%) were for independence and 185,002 votes (44.5%) were against.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/5007364.stm |title=Montenegro vote result confirmed |work=BBC News|date=23 May 2006 |accessdate=11 September 2010}}</ref> This narrowly surpassed the 55% threshold needed to validate the referendum under the rules set by the European Union. According to the electoral commission, the 55% threshold was passed by only 2,300 votes. Serbia, the member-states of the European Union, and the [[permanent members of the United Nations Security Council]] all [[diplomatic recognition|recognised]] Montenegro's independence.
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The 2006 referendum was monitored by five international observer missions, headed by an [[Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe]] (OSCE)/[[ODIHR]] team, and around 3,000 observers in total (including domestic observers from [[Center for Democracy and Technology|CDT]] (OSCE PA), the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe (CLRAE), and the European Parliament (EP) to form an International Referendum Observation Mission (IROM). The IROM—in its preliminary report—"assessed compliance of the referendum process with OSCE commitments, Council of Europe commitments, other international standards for democratic electoral processes, and domestic legislation." Furthermore, the report stated that the competitive pre-referendum environment was marked by an active and generally peaceful campaign and that "there were no reports of restrictions on fundamental civil and political rights."
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On 3 June 2006, the Montenegrin Parliament declared the independence of Montenegro,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/5043462.stm |title=Montenegro declares independence |work=BBC News|date=4 June 2006 |accessdate=11 September 2010}}</ref> formally confirming the result of the referendum.
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The [[Law on the Status of the Descendants of the Petrović Njegoš Dynasty]] was passed by the Parliament of Montenegro on 12 July 2011. It rehabilitated the [[House of Petrović-Njegoš|Royal House of Montenegro]] and recognized limited symbolic roles within the constitutional framework of the republic.
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In 2015, the investigative journalists' network [[Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project|OCCRP]] named Montenegro's long-time President and Prime Minister [[Milo Đukanović]] "Person of the Year in Organized Crime".<ref>"[https://www.occrp.org/personoftheyear/2015/ OCCRP announces 2015 Organized Crime and Corruption ‘Person of the Year’ Award]". [[Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project]].</ref> The extent of Đukanović's corruption led to street demonstrations and calls for his removal.<ref>"[http://www.foreignpolicyjournal.com/2017/01/05/the-balkans-corrupt-leaders-are-playing-nato-for-a-fool/ The Balkans’ Corrupt Leaders are Playing NATO for a Fool]". ''[[Foreign Policy]]''. 5 January 2017.</ref><ref>"[http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/dec/1/montenegros-drive-for-nato-angers-russia-strains-a/ Montenegro invited to join NATO, a move sure to anger Russia, strain alliance's standards]". ''The Washington Times''. 1 December 2015.</ref>
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In October 2016, for the day of the [[Montenegrin parliamentary election, 2016|parliamentary election]], a [[Montenegrin coup d'état attempt|coup d'état was prepared]] by a group of persons that included leaders of the Montenegrin opposition, Serbian nationals and Russian agents; the coup was prevented.<ref>{{cite news |first=Dusan |last=Stojanovic |date=31 October 2016 |title=NATO, Russia to Hold Parallel Drills in the Balkans |url=http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EU_BALKANS_MILITARY_DRILLS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2016-10-31-12-14-05 |work=Associated Press |accessdate=8 November 2016 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161107162123/http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EU_BALKANS_MILITARY_DRILLS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2016-10-31-12-14-05 |archivedate=7 November 2016}}<br />{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Russians behind Montenegro coup attempt, says prosecutor |url=http://www.dw.com/en/russians-behind-montenegro-coup-attempt-says-prosecutor/a-36284714 |publisher=Deutsche Welle |location=Germany |agency=AFP, Reuters, AP |date=6 November 2016 |accessdate=8 November 2016}}<br />{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=6 November 2016 |title=Montenegro Prosecutor: Russian Nationalists Behind Alleged Coup Attempt |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/montenegro-prosecutor-russian-nationalists-behind-alleged-coup-attempt-1478473032 |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |location=United States |accessdate=8 November 2016}}<br />{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title='Russian nationalists' behind Montenegro PM assassination plot |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-37890683 |publisher=BBC |location=United Kingdom |date=6 November 2016 |accessdate=8 November 2016}}</ref> In 2017, fourteen people, including two Russian nationals and two Montenegrin opposition leaders, [[Andrija Mandić]] and [[Milan Knežević (Montenegrin politician)|Milan Knežević]], were indicted for their alleged roles in the coup attempt on charges such as "preparing a conspiracy against the constitutional order and the security of Montenegro" and an "attempted terrorist act."<ref name="rferlcoup">[https://www.rferl.org/a/montenegro-coup-charges-confirmed/28535744.html Montenegrin Court Confirms Charges Against Alleged Coup Plotters] Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty/Radio Liberty, 8 June 2017.</ref>
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Montenegro formally [[Montenegro–NATO relations|became a member]] of [[NATO]] in June 2017, though "Montenegro remains deeply divided over joining NATO",<ref name="murkypolitico">[https://www.politico.eu/article/montenegro-nato-milo-dukanovicmurky-coup-plot/ Indictment tells murky Montenegrin coup tale: Trial will hear claims of Russian involvement in plans to assassinate prime minister and stop Balkan country's NATO membership.] [[Politico]], 23 May 2017.</ref> an event that triggered a promise of retaliatory actions on the part of Russia's government.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/may/25/montenegro-tensions-russia-joins-nato-member Montenegro finds itself at heart of tensions with Russia as it joins Nato: Alliance that bombed country only 18 years ago welcomes it as 29th member in move that has left its citizens divided] ''The Guardian'', 25 May 2017.</ref><ref>[http://tass.ru/politika/3682321 МИД РФ: ответ НАТО на предложения российских военных неконкретный и размытый] // ″Расширение НАТО″, [[TASS]], 6 October 2016.</ref><ref>[http://www.mid.ru/web/guest/kommentarii_predstavitelya/-/asset_publisher/MCZ7HQuMdqBY/content/id/2740071 Комментарий Департамента информации и печати МИД России в связи с голосованием в Скупщине Черногории по вопросу присоединения к НАТО] [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Russia)|Russian Foreign Ministry]]′s Statement, 28.04.17.</ref>
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Montenegro has been in [[Accession of Montenegro to the European Union|negotiations]] with the EU since 2012. In 2018, the earlier goal of acceding by 2022<ref>[https://europeanwesternbalkans.com/2017/04/20/darmanovic-montenegro-becomes-eu-member-in-2022/ Darmanović: Montenegro becomes EU member in 2022] 20 April 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2017.</ref> was revised to 2025.<ref>[https://www.ft.com/content/e0774a28-0695-11e8-9650-9c0ad2d7c5b5 "EU to map out membership for 6 western Balkan states"], Michael Peel and Neil Buckley, ''Financial Times'', 1 February 2018</ref>
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[[2019 Montenegrin protests]] began in February 2019 against the incumbent President [[Milo Đukanović]] and the Prime Minister [[Duško Marković]]-led [[Government of Montenegro#Marković Cabinet (2016-present)|government]] of the ruling [[Democratic Party of Socialists]] (DPS), which has been in power since 1991.<ref>{{cite news |title=Thousands march in Montenegro capital to demand president resign |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-montenegro-protests/thousands-march-in-montenegro-capital-to-demand-president-resign-idUSKCN1QX0OD |agency=Reuters |date=16 March 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Montenegrin Antigovernment Protests Enter Eighth Week |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/montenegrin-antigovernment-protests-enter-eighth-week/29866285.html |work=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |date=7 April 2019}}</ref>
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The bombing campaign against Yugoslavia resulted in massive destructions around both the federal capital Sarajevo and the Serbian capital Belgrade but the Yugoslav Federation did not crumble into pieces, also due to the Russian, Hungarian and Greek support and to the covert German-French support; this caused severe unrest in Montenegro, which proclaimed its independence and subsequently asked for the Italian annexation.
  
As of late December 2019, the newly adopted Law on Religion, which [[de jure]] transfers the ownership of church buildings and estates built before 1918 from the [[Serbian Orthodox Church]] to the Montenegrin state,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2019/12/26/world/europe/26reuters-montenegro-protest.html|title=Serbs Protest in Montenegro Ahead of Vote on Religious Law|last=Reuters|date=2019-12-26|work=The New York Times|access-date=2020-01-05|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://balkaninsight.com/2019/06/14/montenegros-attack-on-church-property-will-create-lawless-society/|title=Montenegro’s Attack on Church Property Will Create Lawless Society|date=2019-06-14|website=Balkan Insight|language=en-US|access-date=2020-01-05}}</ref> sparked a series of large<ref>{{Citation|title=Masovna litija SPC u Podgorici|url=https://www.slobodnaevropa.org/a/video-masovna-litija-u-podgorici/30413077.html|language=sh|access-date=2020-02-10}}</ref> protests followed with road blockages.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.voanews.com/europe/montenegro-adopts-law-religious-rights-amid-protests-pro-serbs|title=Montenegro Adopts Law on Religious Rights Amid Protests by pro-Serbs|website=Voice of America|language=en|access-date=2020-01-05}}</ref> Seventeen opposition [[Democratic Front (Montenegro)|Democratic Front]] MPs were arrested prior to the voting for violently disrupting the vote.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-50923647|title=Montenegro's parliament approves religion law despite protests|last=|first=|date=2019-12-27|work=BBC|access-date=2020-01-05|url-status=live|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rt.com/news/477014-serbia-montenegro-parliament-fight/|title=When words are not enough: BRAWLS break out in Serbian & Montenegrin parliaments amid debates over church property law (VIDEOS)|website=RT International|language=en|access-date=2020-01-20}}</ref> Demonstrations continued into March<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.politika.rs/scc/clanak/449003/Nastavljene-litije-sirom-Crne-Gore|title=Настављене литије широм Црне Горе|website=Politika Online|access-date=2020-03-02}}</ref> 2020 as peaceful protest walks, mostly organised by the [[Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral]] in a number of Montenegrin municipalities.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2020/01/01/world/europe/ap-eu-montenegro-church.html|title=Several Thousand Protest Church Bill in Montenegro|last=Press|first=The Associated|date=2020-01-01|work=The New York Times|access-date=2020-01-05|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://rs.n1info.com/English/NEWS/a557775/Thousands-at-protest-headed-by-Bishop-Amfilohije-in-Montenegrin-capital.html|title=Thousands at protest headed by Bishop Amfilohije in Montenegrin capital|website=N1 Srbija|language=sr-Latn|access-date=2020-01-05}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://rs.n1info.com/English/NEWS/a558047/Thousands-will-regret-Vucic-s-absence-in-Montenegro.html|title='Thousands will regret Vucic's absence in Montenegro'|website=N1 Srbija|language=sr-Latn|access-date=2020-01-05}}</ref>
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Yugoslavian-Italian talks were unusually brief: the Yugoslavian elite did not want a peripheral and poor member which clearly said that it did not want to be a member; therefore the Independent State of Montenegro ended on 27 October 1999, and the Autonomous Republic of Montenegro was born the following day. The Second Principality of Montenegro was established on 3 June 2003
  
 
== Geography ==
 
== Geography ==
{{Main|Geography of Montenegro}}
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Montenegro ranges from high peaks along its borders with Serbia and [[Kingdom of Albania (Italian Empire)|Albania]], a segment of the Carso, to a narrow coastal plain that is only 1.5 to 6 km wide. The plain stops abruptly in the north, where Mount Leone and Mount Orjen plunge into the inlet of the Bay of Cattaro.
[[File:HSV 654 07 Jan 2014 Montenegro Holokarst.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4|Satellite view of Montenegro]]
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Montenegro ranges from high peaks along its borders with Serbia, [[Kosovo]], and Albania, a segment of the [[Karst]] of the western Balkan Peninsula, to a narrow coastal plain that is only {{convert|1.5|to|6|km|mi|0|abbr=off}} wide. The plain stops abruptly in the north, where [[Mount Lovćen]] and [[Mount Orjen]] plunge into the inlet of the Bay of Kotor.
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Montenegro's large karst region lies generally at elevations of {{convert|1000|m|sigfig=3}} above sea level; some parts, however, rise to {{convert|2000|m|abbr=on|sigfig=3}}, such as [[Mount Orjen]] ({{convert|1894|m|disp=or|abbr=on}}), the highest massif among the coastal limestone ranges. The [[Zeta River]] valley, at an elevation of {{convert|500|m|abbr=on|sigfig=2}}, is the lowest segment.
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Montenegro's large karst region lies generally at elevations of 1000 m above sea level; some parts, however, rise to 2000 m, such as Mount Orjen 1894 m, the highest massif among the coastal limestone ranges. The Zeta River valley, at an elevation of 500 m, is the lowest segment.
  
The mountains of Montenegro include some of the most rugged terrain in Europe, averaging more than {{convert|2000|m|abbr=off}} in elevation. One of the country's notable peaks is [[Bobotov Kuk]] in the [[Durmitor]] mountains, which reaches a height of {{convert|2522|m|abbr=on}}. Owing to the hyperhumid climate on their western sides, the Montenegrin mountain ranges were among the most ice-eroded parts of the Balkan Peninsula during the last glacial period.
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The mountains of Montenegro include some of the most rugged terrain in Europe, averaging more than 2000 m in elevation. One of the country's notable peaks is Bobotov Kuk in the Durmitor mountains, which reaches a height of 2522 m. Owing to the hyperhumid climate on their western sides, the Montenegrin mountain ranges were among the most ice-eroded parts of the Balkan Peninsula during the last glacial period.
[[File:R-1 regional road (Montenegro) 07.jpg|thumb| The [[Bay of Kotor]], also known locally as 'Boka Kotorska', or simply 'Boka', is designated a [[UNESCO]] World Heritage Site.]]
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[[File:Pinus heldreichii Bijela gora above Borovi do.jpg|thumb|''[[Pinus heldreichii]]'', [[Bijela gora]].]]
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Internationally, Montenegro borders [[Croatia]], [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]], [[Serbia]], [[Kosovo]],{{efn|name=status}} and Albania. It lies between latitudes [[41st parallel north|41°]] and [[44th parallel north|44°N]], and longitudes [[18th meridian east|18°]] and [[21st meridian east|21°E]].
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* Longest beach: [[Velika Plaža]], [[Ulcinj]]&nbsp;– {{convert|13000|m|mi|abbr=on}}
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* Highest peak: [[Zla Kolata]], [[Prokletije]] at {{convert|2535|m|ft|abbr=on}}
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* Largest lake: [[Skadar Lake]]&nbsp;– {{convert|391|km2|abbr=on}} of surface area
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* Deepest canyon: [[Tara River Canyon]]&nbsp;– {{convert|1300|m|abbr=on}}
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* Biggest [[Headlands and bays|bay]]: [[Bay of Kotor]]
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* Deepest cave: Iron Deep {{convert|1169|m|ft|abbr=on}}, exploring started in 2012, now more than {{convert|3000|m|ft|abbr=on}} long<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.suchy-zleb.cz/en/2012/08/01/first-kilometer-deep-cave-explored-by-czech-team/|title=First kilometer deep cave explored by Czech team &#124; ZO 6-14 Suchy Zleb}}</ref>
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{| class="wikitable sortable"
+
|-
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! Name
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! Established
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! Area
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|-
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| [[Durmitor]] National Park
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| 1952
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| {{convert|390|km2|ha|0}}
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|-
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| [[Biogradska Gora]]
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| 1952
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| {{convert|54|km2|ha|0}}
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+
|-
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| [[Lovćen]] National Park
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| 1952
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| {{convert|64|km2|ha|0}}
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+
|-
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| [[Lake Skadar]] National Park
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| 1983
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| {{convert|400|km2|ha|0}}
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|-
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| [[Prokletije]] National Park
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| 2009
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| {{convert|166|km2|ha|0}}
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|}
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Montenegro is a member of the [[International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River]], as more than {{convert|2000|km2|0|abbr=on}} of the country's territory lie within the [[Danube]] [[Drainage basin|catchment area]].
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=== Biodiversity ===
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The diversity of the geological base, landscape, climate, and soil, and the position of Montenegro on the Balkan Peninsula and Adriatic Sea, created the conditions for high biological diversity, putting Montenegro among the "hot-spots" of European and world biodiversity. The number of species per area unit index in Montenegro is 0.837, which is the highest index recorded in any European country.<ref>{{cite book |title=Environment Reporter 2010 |year=2011 |publisher=Environmental Protection Agency of Montenegro |page=22}}</ref>
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== Politics ==
 
== Politics ==
{{Main|Politics of Montenegro}}
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The Constitution of Montenegro describes the state as a "Fascist Monarchy, based on the reign of Nation. The Prince of Montenegro, Italo Debalti is the Monarch, head of State. The Prince of Montenegro heads the government, incarnates the country ìì, promulgates laws, calls elections, and appoints his nominees for the Government, president and justices of the Courts. The Prince of Montenegro also grants amnesty for criminal offences, confers decoration and awards and performs other duties and is a chairman of the Defence Council. The official residence of the President is in Cettigne.
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left; float:left; margin-right:9px; margin-left:2px;"
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|-
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| style="text-align:center;" | [[File:Milo Đukanović in 2010 (cropped).jpg|120px]] || style="text-align:center;" | [[File:PM Dusko Markovic.jpg|130px]]
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|-
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| style="text-align:center;" | [[Milo Đukanović]]<br /><small>[[President of Montenegro|President]]</small>
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| style="text-align:center;" | [[Duško Marković]]<br /><small>[[Prime Minister of Montenegro|Prime Minister]]</small>
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|}
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The [[Constitution of Montenegro]] describes the state as a "[[Civic engagement|civic]], democratic, [[environmentalism|ecological]] state of [[social justice]], based on the [[rule of law|reign of Law]]."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.skupstina.me/cms/site_data/ustav/Ustav%20Crne%20Gore.pdf |title=Ustav Crne Gore |format=PDF |accessdate=11 September 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100326020047/http://www.skupstina.me/cms/site_data/ustav/Ustav%20Crne%20Gore.pdf |archivedate=26 March 2010}}</ref> Montenegro is an independent and sovereign republic that proclaimed its new constitution on 22 October 2007.
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The [[President of Montenegro]] ([[Montenegrin language|Montenegrin]]: ''Predsjednik Crne Gore'') is the [[head of state]], elected for a period of five years through direct elections. The President represents the country abroad, promulgates laws by ordinance, calls elections for the [[Parliament of Montenegro|Parliament]], and proposes candidates for [[Prime Minister of Montenegro|Prime Minister]], president and justices of the Constitutional Court to the Parliament. The President also proposes the calling of a [[referendum]] to Parliament, grants amnesty for criminal offences prescribed by the national law, confers decoration and awards and performs other constitutional duties and is a member of the Supreme Defence Council. The official residence of the President is in [[Cetinje]].
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The Government of Montenegro is the executive branch of government authority of Montenegro. The government is headed by the Lieutenant General and Prime Minister, and consists of the ministers.
  
The [[Government of Montenegro]] ([[Montenegrin language|Montenegrin]]: ''Vlada Crne Gore'') is the [[Executive (government)|executive branch]] of government authority of Montenegro. The government is headed by the [[Prime Minister of Montenegro|Prime Minister]], and consists of the deputy prime ministers as well as ministers.<ref>[http://www.me/index.php/cg/ustavno-uredenje2 Ustavno uređenje], [[.me]]</ref>
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The Corporative Assembly is a ìunicameral legislative body. It proposes laws, adopts the budget and performs other duties as established by the Constitution.
 
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The [[Parliament of Montenegro]] ([[Montenegrin language|Montenegrin]]: ''Skupština Crne Gore'') is a [[unicameral]] [[Legislature|legislative]] body. It passes laws, ratifies treaties, appoints the Prime Minister, ministers, and justices of all courts, adopts the budget and performs other duties as established by the Constitution. Parliament can pass a vote of no-confidence in the Government by a simple majority. One representative is elected per 6,000 voters. The present parliament contains 81 seats, with 39 seats held by the [[Coalition for a European Montenegro]] after the [[Montenegrin parliamentary election, 2012|2012 parliamentary election]].
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=== Foreign relations of Montenegro ===
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{{See also|Foreign relations of Montenegro}}
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[[Image:Secretary_Pompeo_Participates_in_a_Press_Availability_in_Montenegro_(48844398567).jpg|thumb|Prime Minister [[Duško Marković]] and U.S. Secretary of State [[Mike Pompeo]]]]
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After the promulgation of the Declaration of Independence in the Parliament of the Republic of Montenegro on 3 June 2006, following the independence referendum held on 21 May, the Government of the Republic of Montenegro assumed the competences of defining and conducting the foreign policy of Montenegro as a subject of international law and a [[sovereign state]]. The implementation of this constitutional responsibility was vested in the Ministry of [[Foreign Affairs]], which was given the task of defining the foreign policy priorities and activities needed for their implementation. These activities are pursued in close cooperation with other state administration authorities, the President, the Speaker of the Parliament, and other relevant stakeholders.<ref name="mvpei.gov.me">{{cite web|url=http://www.mvpei.gov.me/en/ministry/Foreign-Policy/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921043856/http://www.mvpei.gov.me/en/ministry/Foreign-Policy|url-status=dead|archive-date=2013-09-21|website=mvpei.gov.me|title=Foreign Policy}}</ref>
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Integration into the [[European Union]] is Montenegro's strategic goal. This process will remain in the focus of Montenegrin foreign policy in the short term.
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The second strategic and equally important goal, but one attainable in a shorter time span, was joining [[NATO]], which would guarantee stability and security for pursuing other strategic goals. Montenegro believes NATO integration would speed up EU integration.<ref name="mvpei.gov.me" /> In May 2017 NATO accepted Montenegro as a NATO member starting 5 June 2017.<ref>{{cite news |title=Montenegro to Join NATO on June 5 – WSJ |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/montenegro-to-join-nato-on-june-5-1495704211 |date=25 May 2017 |author=Julian E. Barnes |newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |accessdate=25 May 2017}}</ref>
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=== Symbols ===
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{{See also|National symbols of Montenegro}}
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[[File:Njegos mausoleum montenegro.jpg|thumb|[[Mausoleum of Njegoš|Mausoleum]] of [[Petar II Petrović-Njegoš]], in [[Lovćen]]]]
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An official [[flag of Montenegro]], based on the royal standard of [[King Nicholas I]], was adopted on 12 July 2004 by the Montenegrin legislature. This royal flag was red with a silver border, a silver coat of arms, and the initials НІ, in Cyrillic script (corresponding to NI in Latin script), representing King Nicholas I. On the current flag, the border and arms are in gold and the royal cipher in the centre of the arms has been replaced with a golden lion.
+
 
+
The national day of [[Statehood_Day_(Montenegro)|13 July]] marks the date in 1878 when the [[Congress of Berlin]] recognized Montenegro as the 27th independent state in the world<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.predsjednik.me/print.php?id=983&jezik=2 |title=President Vujanovic's Closing Speech at the Crans Montana Forum |publisher=Predsjednik.me |date=21 February 2006 |accessdate=11 September 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511115623/http://www.predsjednik.me/print.php?id=983&jezik=2 |archive-date=11 May 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref><!--At end of the speech "Right to vote in the referendum on independence should also be enabled because of the chance for Montenegro to regain her full international subjectivity after 128 years since her international recognition at the Berlin Congress. At that period of time, Montenegro was the 27th state of the international community." ~~~~~ --> and the start of one of the first popular uprisings in Europe against the [[Axis Powers]] on 13 July 1941 in Montenegro.
+
 
+
In 2004, the Montenegrin legislature selected a popular Montenegrin traditional song, "[[Oj, svijetla majska zoro|Oh, Bright Dawn of May]]", as the [[national anthem]]. Montenegro's official anthem during the reign of King Nicholas I was ''[[Ubavoj nam Crnoj Gori]]'' ("To Our Beautiful Montenegro").
+
 
+
=== Military ===
+
{{Main|Armed Forces of Montenegro}}
+
[[File:Military Montenegro 11.jpg|thumb|[[Armed Forces of Montenegro]]]]
+
[[File:Patrolni_brod_klasa_Kotor_P34.jpg|thumb|[[Kotor-class frigate]]]]
+
The [[military of Montenegro]] is a fully professional [[standing army]] under the [[Ministry of Defence (Montenegro)|Ministry of Defence]] and is composed of the [[Montenegrin Ground Army]], the [[Montenegrin Navy]], and the [[Montenegrin Air Force]], along with [[special forces]]. Conscription was abolished in 2006<!-- of the Army? -->. The military currently maintains a force of 1,920 active duty members. The bulk of its equipment and forces were inherited from the armed forces of the State Union of [[Serbia and Montenegro]]; as Montenegro contained the entire [[coastline]] of the former union, it retained practically the entire naval force.
+
 
+
Montenegro was a member of NATO's [[Partnership for Peace]] program and then became an official candidate for full membership in the alliance. Montenegro applied for a Membership Action Plan on 5 November 2008, which was granted in December 2009. Montenegro is also a member of [[Adriatic Charter]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/p/eur/rls/fs/112766.htm |title=Adriatic Charter |access-date=7 September 2018 }}</ref> Montenegro was invited to join [[NATO]] on 2 December 2015 and on 19 May 2016, NATO and Montenegro conducted a signing ceremony at NATO headquarters in [[Brussels]] for Montenegro's membership invitation.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/nato-ministers-meet-wide-array-security-challenges-39222251 |title=NATO Formally Invites Montenegro as 29th Member |agency=Associated Press |date=19 May 2016 |accessdate=20 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160520151307/http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/nato-ministers-meet-wide-array-security-challenges-39222251 |archive-date=20 May 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Montenegro became NATO's 29th [[Member states of NATO|member]] on 5 June 2017, despite Russia's objections.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/defying-russia-montenegro-finally-joins-nato-47837516 |title=Defying Russia, Montenegro finally joins NATO |last=Milic |first=Predrag |date=5 June 2017 |publisher=ABC News |access-date=5 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170607120315/http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/defying-russia-montenegro-finally-joins-nato-47837516 |archive-date=7 June 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The government plans to have the army participate in [[peacekeeping]] missions through the UN and NATO such as the [[International Security Assistance Force]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vijesti.me/index.php?id=302794 |title=Spremaju se za Avganistan |publisher=Vijesti.me |accessdate=11 September 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725140231/http://www.vijesti.me/index.php?id=302794 |archivedate=25 July 2011}}</ref>
+
 
+
=== Administrative divisions ===
+
{{Main|Municipalities of Montenegro|List of regions of Montenegro}}
+
Montenegro is divided into twenty-three municipalities (''[[opština]]''). This includes 21 District-level Municipalities and 2 Urban Municipalities, with two subdivisions of [[municipality of Podgorica|Podgorica municipality]], listed below.  Each municipality can contain multiple cities and towns.  Historically, the territory of the country was divided into "nahije".
+
{| border="0" cellpadding="4"
+
|-
+
| rowspan="25" | [[File:Montenegro, administrative divisions - Nmbrs - colored.svg|thumb|upright=1.15|Municipalities of Montenegro.]][[File:Regions of Montenegro.jpg|thumb|upright=1.15|Regions of Montenegro—designed purely for the statistical purposes by the Statistical Office—have no administrative use. Note that other organization (i.e. [[Football Association of Montenegro]]) use different municipalities as a part of similar "[[Montenegrin Third League|regions]]". ]]
+
|-
+
! No. || Municipality || Seat
+
|-
+
| [[File:Pljevlja-grb.png|x30px]] 1 || [[Pljevlja Municipality]] || [[Pljevlja]]
+
|-
+
| [[File:Pluzine coa.png|x27px]] 2 || [[Plužine Municipality]] || [[Plužine]]
+
|-
+
| [[File:Amblem of Zabljak.png|x18px]] 3 || [[Žabljak Municipality]] || [[Žabljak]]
+
|-
+
| [[File:Mojkovac coa.png|x34px]] 4 || [[Mojkovac Municipality]] || [[Mojkovac]]
+
|-
+
| [[File:BijeloPoljeWeapon.png|x38px]] 5 || [[Bijelo Polje Municipality]] || [[Bijelo Polje]]
+
|-
+
| [[File:BeraneWeapon.png|x30px]] 6 || [[Berane Municipality|Berane]]  / [[Petnjica Municipality|Petnjica]] || [[Berane]] / [[Petnjica]] (22)
+
|-
+
| [[File:Rozaje-grb.png|x25px]] 7 || [[Rožaje Municipality]] || [[Rožaje]]
+
|-
+
| [[File:SavnikWeapon.png|x30px]] 8 || [[Šavnik Municipality]] || [[Šavnik]]
+
|-
+
| [[File:Niksic-Grb.gif|x35px]] 9 || [[Nikšić Municipality]] || [[Nikšić]]
+
|-
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| [[File:Kolasin coat.gif|x25px]] 10 || [[Kolašin Municipality]] || [[Kolašin]]
+
|-
+
| [[File:CoatAN.jpg|x30px]] 11 || [[Andrijevica Municipality]] || [[Andrijevica]]
+
|-
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| [[File:PlavWeapon.png|x28px]] 12 || [[Plav Municipality|Plav]] / [[Gusinje Municipality|Gusinje]] || [[Plav Municipality|Plav]] / [[Gusinje]] (23)
+
|-
+
| [[File:Coat of Arms of Kotor.png|x16px]] 13 || [[Kotor Municipality]] || [[Kotor]]
+
|-
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| [[File:Cetinje Coat-of-Arms.svg|x28px]] 14 || [[Old Royal Capital Cetinje]] || [[Cetinje]]
+
|-
+
| [[File:Coat of arms of Danilovgrad.jpg|x25px]] 15 || [[Danilovgrad Municipality]] || [[Danilovgrad]]
+
|-
+
| [[File:Podgorica Coat of Arms.png|x18px]] 16 || [[Podgorica Capital City]] || [[Podgorica]] / [[Tuzi]] (24)
+
|-
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| [[File:Herceg-Novi-Grb.gif|x28px]] 17 || [[Herceg Novi Municipality]] || [[Herceg Novi]]
+
|-
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| [[File:TivatWeapon.png|x20px]] 18 || [[Tivat Municipality]] || [[Tivat]]
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|-
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| [[File:Budva-grb.gif|x15px]] 19 || [[Budva Municipality]] || [[Budva]]
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|-
+
| [[File:Coat of Arms of Bar.png|x18px]] 20 || [[Bar Municipality]] || [[Bar, Montenegro|Bar]]
+
|-
+
| [[File:Coat of Arms of Ulcinj.svg|x27px]] 21 || [[Ulcinj Municipality]] || [[Ulcinj]]
+
|}
+
 
+
=== Cities in Montenegro ===
+
{{Main|List of cities in Montenegro}}
+
{{Largest cities of Montenegro}}
+
  
 
== Economy ==
 
== Economy ==
{{Main|Economy of Montenegro}}
+
The economy of Montenegro is mostly service-based in a State/Corporatist economy.
[[File:The port of Bar, view from Vrsuta mnt (39372956332).jpg|thumb|[[Port of Bar]] is Montenegro's main sea port located in [[Bar, Montenegro|Bar]].]]
+
[[File:Montenegro Exports Treemap 2017.svg|thumb|A treemap representing the exports of Montenegro in [[2017]].]]
+
 
+
The economy of Montenegro is mostly [[Tertiary sector of the economy|service-based]] and is in [[Transition economy|late transition]] to a [[market economy]]. According to the [[International Monetary Fund]], the [[nominal GDP]] of Montenegro was $5.424&nbsp;billion in 2019.<ref name="WEO2019"/> The [[Purchasing power parity|GDP PPP]] for 2019 was $12.516&nbsp;billion, or $20,083 per capita.<ref name="WEO2019"/> According to [[Eurostat]] data, the Montenegrin GDP per capita stood at 46% of the EU average in 2017.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/tgm/graph.do?tab=graph&plugin=1&pcode=tec00114&language=en&toolbox=data |title=GDP per capita in PPS |publisher=European Commission |access-date=1 February 2019}}</ref> The [[Central Bank of Montenegro]] is not part of the euro system but the country is "[[euroisation|euroised]]", using [[Montenegro and the euro|the euro unilaterally]] as its currency.
+
 
+
GDP grew at 10.7% in 2007 and 7.5% in 2008.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2011/01/weodata/weorept.aspx?pr.x=69&pr.y=3&sy=2008&ey=2011&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=943&s=NGDPD%2CPPPGDP%2CPPPPC&grp=0&a= |title=5. Report for Selected Countries and Subjects |website=IMF.org |publisher=[[International Monetary Fund]] |date=April 2011}}</ref> The country entered a [[recession]] in 2008 as a part of the [[late-2000s recession|global recession]], with GDP contracting by 4%. However, Montenegro remained a target for [[foreign direct investment|foreign investment]], the only country in the Balkans to increase its amount of direct foreign investment.<ref>[http://in.reuters.com/article/fundsNews/idINGEE5B91G120091210 FDI falls across West Balkans, except Montenegro.] [[Reuters]] India 10 December 2009. Retrieved 14 December 2009.</ref> The country exited the recession in mid-2010, with GDP growth at around 0.5%.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://balkans.com/open-news.php?uniquenumber=43059 |title=Montenegro's leader sees slow economic recovery |website=balkans.com |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514222459/http://www.balkans.com/open-news.php?uniquenumber=43059 |archivedate=14 May 2011}}</ref> However, the significant dependence of the Montenegrin economy on [[foreign direct investment]] leaves it susceptible to external shocks and a high export/import trade deficit.
+
 
+
In 2007, the [[service sector]] made up 72.4% of GDP, with industry and agriculture making up the rest at 17.6% and 10%, respectively.<ref name=WB>{{cite web |url=http://devdata.worldbank.org/AAG/mne_aag.pdf |title=Montenegro at a glance |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511082355/http://devdata.worldbank.org/AAG/mne_aag.pdf |archivedate=11 May 2011}}</ref> There are 50,000 farming households in Montenegro that rely on agriculture to fill the family budget.<ref>{{cite web |first=Milena |last=Milosevic |url=http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/agriculture-imposes-new-challenges-for-montenegro |title=EU Farming Standards Pose Test For Montenegro |publisher=Balkan Insight |accessdate=7 December 2012}}</ref>
+
  
 
=== Infrastructure ===
 
=== Infrastructure ===
{{Main|Transport in Montenegro}}
+
The Montenegrin road infrastructure is not at Western European standards. Despite an extensive road network, no roads are built to full motorway standards.
[[File:Montenegro motorways.JPG|thumb|left|upright=1.2|Roads of Montenegro in service and two planned: red – [[Belgrade–Bar motorway|Bar–Boljare highway]], blue – [[Adriatic–Ionian motorway]]]]
+
  
The Montenegrin road infrastructure is not yet at Western European standards. Despite an extensive road network, no roads are built to full motorway standards. Construction of new motorways is considered a national priority, as they are important for uniform regional economic development and the development of Montenegro as an attractive tourist destination.
+
Current Imperial route that passes through Montenegro is the Imperial Balkan Route.
  
Current [[European route]]s that pass through Montenegro are [[European route E65|E65]] and [[European route E80|E80]].
+
The backbone of the Montenegrin rail network is the Belgrade–Antivari railway, which provides international connection towards Serbia. There is a domestic branch line, the Nikšić-Podgorica railway. Also the other branch line from Podgorica towards the Albanian border, the Podgorizza–Scutari railway, is in use.
  
The backbone of the Montenegrin rail network is the [[Belgrade–Bar railway]], which provides international connection towards [[Serbia]]. There is a domestic branch line, the [[Nikšić-Podgorica railway]], which was operated as a freight-only line for decades, and is now also open for passenger traffic after the reconstruction and electrification works in 2012. The other branch line from Podgorica towards the Albanian border, the [[Podgorica–Shkodër railway]], is not in use.
+
Montenegro has two international airports, Podgorizza Airport and Teodo Airport. The port of Antivari is Montenegro's main seaport.
  
Montenegro has two international airports, [[Podgorica Airport]] and [[Tivat Airport]]. The two airports served 1.1&nbsp;million passengers in 2008. [[Montenegro Airlines]] is the flag carrier of Montenegro.
+
== Languages ==
 +
The official languages in Montenegro are Montenegrin and Italian. Also, Serbian, Bosnian, Albanian and Croatian are recognized in usage. Montenegrin, Serbian, Bosnian, and Croatian are mutually intelligible, all being varieties of Serbo-Croatian language.
  
The [[Port of Bar]] is Montenegro's main seaport. Initially built in 1906, the port was almost completely destroyed during [[World War II]], with reconstruction beginning in 1950. Today, it is equipped to handle over 5 million tons of cargo annually, though the breakup of the former Yugoslavia and the size of the Montenegrin industrial sector has resulted in the port operating at a loss and well below capacity for several years. The reconstruction of the [[Belgrade-Bar railway]] and the proposed [[Belgrade-Bar motorway]] are expected to bring the port back up to capacity.
+
== Religion ==
 +
Montenegro has been historically at the crossroads of multiculturalism and over centuries this has shaped its unique form of co-existence between Muslim and Christian populations. Montenegrins have been, historically, members of the Serbian Orthodox Church, and Serbian Orthodox Christianity is the most popular religion today in Montenegro.  
  
=== Tourism ===
+
Despite tensions between religious groups during the Bosnian Wars, Montenegro remained fairly stable, mainly due its population having a historic perspective on religious tolerance and faith diversity. Religious institutions from Montenegro all have guaranteed rights and are separate from the state. The second largest religion is Islam, which amounts to 19% of the total population of the country. Half of Albanians are Catholics while the other half is mainly Sunni Muslims. There is also a Roman Catholic population, mostly Italians and Albanians with some Croats.
{{Main|Tourism in Montenegro}}
+
[[File:Widok na Perast z zachodu 01.JPG|thumb|[[Perast]] in the [[Bay of Kotor]]]]
+
[[File:Sveti Stefan (06).jpg|thumb|[[Sveti Stefan]]]]
+
Montenegro has both a picturesque coast and a mountainous northern region. The country was a well-known tourist spot in the 1980s. Yet, the [[Yugoslav wars]] that were fought in neighbouring countries during the 1990s crippled the tourist industry and damaged the image of Montenegro for years.
+
 
+
With a total of 1.6&nbsp;million visitors, Montenegro is the 36th most visited country (out of 47 countries) in Europe.<ref>{{cite web |author1=Mark Hillsdon |title=The European capital you'd never thought to visit (but really should) |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/albania/articles/tirana-albania-what-to-see-and-do-on-a-weekend-break/ |website=The Daily Telegraph |date=27 February 2017}}</ref> The Montenegrin [[Adriatic]] coast is {{convert|295|km|abbr=on}} long, with {{convert|72|km|abbr=on}} of beaches and many well-preserved ancient old towns. ''[[National Geographic Traveler]]'' (edited once a decade) ranks Montenegro among the "50 Places of a Lifetime", and the Montenegrin seaside [[Sveti Stefan]] was used as the cover for the magazine.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blogs.nationalgeographic.com/blogs/intelligenttravel/2009/09/50-places-of-a-lifetime-1.html |title=50 Places of a Lifetime |website=National Geographic |date=17 September 2009 |accessdate=11 September 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100329113520/http://blogs.nationalgeographic.com/blogs/intelligenttravel/2009/09/50-places-of-a-lifetime-1.html |archivedate=29 March 2010}}</ref> The coast region of Montenegro is considered one of the great new "discoveries" among world tourists. In January 2010, ''The New York Times'' ranked the Ulcinj South Coast region of Montenegro, including [[Velika Plaza]], [[Ada Bojana]], and the [[Hotel Mediteran]] of Ulcinj, among the "Top 31 Places to Go in 2010" as part of a worldwide ranking of tourism destinations.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/10/travel/10places.html?pagewanted=2&ref=travel |title=The 31 Places to Go in 2010 |work=The New York Times |date=7 January 2010 |accessdate=7 December 2012}}</ref>
+
 
+
Montenegro was also listed by Yahoo Travel among the "10 Top Hot Spots of 2009" to visit, describing it as being "[c]urrently ranked as the second fastest growing tourism market in the world (falling just behind China)".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://travel.yahoo.com/p-interests-24784785 |title=10 Top Hot Spots of 2009 by Yahoo Travel |publisher=Yahoo! |accessdate=11 September 2010}}</ref> It is listed every year by prestigious tourism guides like Lonely Planet as top touristic destination along with Greece, Spain and other world touristic places.<ref>{{cite web |first=Holger |last=Leue |url=http://www.lonelyplanet.com/france/travel-tips-and-articles/42/50792 |title=Where to go in June |publisher=Lonely Planet |accessdate=11 September 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100605042913/http://www.lonelyplanet.com/france/travel-tips-and-articles/42/50792 |archivedate=5 June 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.adventureworldmagazineonline.com/news/america-sending-their-best-adventure-racers-to-montenegro/ |title=America Sending their Best Adventure Racers to Montenegro |publisher=Adventureworldmagazineonline.com |date=4 June 2010 |accessdate=11 September 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100710170345/http://www.adventureworldmagazineonline.com/news/america-sending-their-best-adventure-racers-to-montenegro/ |archive-date=10 July 2010 |url-status=dead  }}</ref>
+
 
+
It was not until the 2000s that the tourism industry began to recover, and the country has since experienced a high rate of growth in the number of visits and overnight stays. The [[Government of Montenegro]] has declared the development of Montenegro as an elite tourist destination a top priority. It is a national strategy to make tourism a major contributor to the Montenegrin economy. A number of steps were taken to attract foreign investors. Some large projects are already under way, such as [[Porto Montenegro]], while other locations, like [[Jaz Beach]], [[Buljarica]], [[Velika Plaža]] and [[Ada Bojana]], have perhaps the greatest potential to attract future investments and become premium tourist spots on the [[Adriatic]].
+
 
+
== Demographics ==
+
{{Main|Demographics of Montenegro|Demographic history of Montenegro}}
+
 
+
=== Ethnic structure ===
+
[[File:MontenegroEthnic2011.PNG|thumb|upright=0.8|Predominant ethnic group in each municipality of Montenegro, 2011.]]
+
According to the 2003 census, Montenegro has 620,145 citizens. If the methodology used up to 1991 had been adopted in the 2003 census, Montenegro would officially have recorded 673,094 citizens. The results of the 2011 census show that Montenegro has 620,029 citizens.<ref name="census2011" />
+
 
+
Montenegro is [[Multinational state|multiethnic state]] in which no ethnic group forms a majority.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/analysis/external/applicant/montenegro_en.pdf |title=Montenegro, country report |publisher=[[European Commission]] |date=December 2006 |accessdate=24 January 2016 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160830004805/http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/analysis/external/applicant/montenegro_en.pdf |archivedate=30 August 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/?id=xKMtAQAAIAAJ&q=Montenegro+multi+ethnic+country&dq=Montenegro+multi+ethnic+country |title=Montenegro: A Modern History |publisher=[[I.B. Tauris]] |date= 2009|isbn=9781845117108 }}</ref> Major ethnic groups include [[Montenegrins (ethnic group)|Montenegrins]] (Црногорци/''Crnogorci'') and [[Serbs]] (Срби/''Srbi''); others are [[Bosniaks]] (''Bošnjaci''), [[Albanians]] (''Albanci&nbsp;– Shqiptarët'') and [[Croats]] (''Hrvati''). The number of "Montenegrins" and "Serbs" fluctuates widely from census to census due to changes in how people perceive, experience, or choose to express, their identity and ethnic affiliation.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.njegos.org/census/index.htm |title=Montenegrin Census' from 1909 to 2003 |publisher=Njegos.org |date=23 September 2004 |accessdate=11 September 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/14570/MJ |title=Romani, Balkan in Montenegro |work=Joshua Project |access-date=8 July 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.romea.cz/en/news/world/montenegro-the-money-came-and-went-and-romani-families-are-still-unhoused |title=Montenegro:  The money came and went – and Romani families are still unhoused |website=Romea.cz |date=18 July 2011 |access-date=8 July 2018}}</ref>
+
 
+
{{hidden begin
+
| title = Ethnic groups (2011 census)
+
| toggle = left
+
}}
+
Ethnic composition according to the 2011 official data:<ref name="census2011">{{cite press release |url=http://monstat.org/userfiles/file/popis2011/saopstenje/saopstenje(1).pdf |format=PDF |language=Serbo-Croatian, English |title=Popis stanovništva, domaćinstava i stanova u Crnoj Gori 2011. godine |trans-title=Census of Population, Households and Dwellings in Montenegro 2011 |publisher=Statistical office, Montenegro |date=12 July 2011 |accessdate=30 March 2011}}</ref>
+
 
+
{| border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" class="toccolours" style="align:left; margin:0.5em 0 0; border-style:solid; border:1px solid #7f7f7f; border-right-width:2px; border-bottom-width:2px; border-collapse:collapse; font-size:100%;"
+
|- style="background:beige;"
+
||
+
|  style="text-align:center;" | Number
+
|  style="text-align:center;" | %
+
|- style="background:#c1c1c1;"
+
|| '''Total'''
+
|| '''620,029'''
+
|| 100
+
|-
+
| style="background:beige;" | [[Montenegrins (ethnic group)|Montenegrins]]
+
| 278,865
+
| 45.0
+
|-
+
| style="background:beige;" | [[Serbs]]
+
| 178,110
+
| 28.7
+
|-
+
| style="background:beige;" | [[Bosniaks]]
+
| 53,605
+
| 8.6
+
|-
+
| style="background:beige;" | [[Albanians]]
+
| 30,439
+
| 4.9
+
|-
+
| style="background:beige;" | [[Muslims by nationality]]
+
| 20,537
+
| 3.3
+
|-
+
| style="background:beige;" | [[Croats]]
+
| 6,021
+
| 1.0
+
|-
+
| style="background:beige;" | [[Romani people|Roma]]
+
| 5,251
+
| 0.8
+
|-
+
| style="background:beige;" | [[Serbians|Serbo]]-[[Montenegrins (ethnic group)|Montenegrins]]
+
| 2,103
+
| 0.3
+
|-
+
| style="background:beige;" | [[Balkan Egyptians|"Egyptians"]]
+
| 2,054
+
| 0.3
+
|-
+
| style="background:beige;" | [[Montenegrins (ethnic group)|Montenegrins]]-[[Serbs]]
+
| 1,833
+
| 0.3
+
|-
+
| style="background:beige;" | [[Yugoslavs]]
+
| 1,154
+
| 0.2
+
|-
+
| style="background:beige;" | [[Russians]]
+
| 946
+
| 0.2
+
|-
+
| style="background:beige;" | [[Macedonians (ethnic group)|Macedonians]]
+
| 900
+
| 0.2
+
|-
+
| style="background:beige;" | [[Bosnians]]
+
| 427
+
| 0.1
+
|-
+
| style="background:beige;" | [[Slovenes]]
+
| 354
+
| 0.1
+
|-
+
| style="background:beige;" | [[Hungarians]]
+
| 337
+
| 0.1
+
|-
+
| style="background:beige;" | [[Montenegrins (ethnic group)|Muslim-Montenegrins]]
+
| 257
+
| <0.1
+
|-
+
| style="background:beige;" | [[Gorani people]]
+
| 197
+
| <0.1
+
|-
+
| style="background:beige;" | [[Bosniaks|Muslim-Bosniaks]]
+
| 183
+
| <0.1
+
|-
+
| style="background:beige;" | [[Bosniaks]]-Muslims
+
| 181
+
| <0.1
+
|-
+
| style="background:beige;" | [[Montenegrins (ethnic group)|Montenegrin-Muslims]]
+
| 175
+
| <0.1
+
|-
+
| style="background:beige;" | Italians
+
| 135
+
| <0.1
+
|-
+
| style="background:beige;" | [[Germans]]
+
| 131
+
| <0.1
+
|-
+
| style="background:beige;" | [[Turkish people|Turks]]
+
| 104
+
| <0.1
+
|-
+
| style="background:beige;" | ''regional qualification''
+
| 1,202
+
| 0.2
+
|-
+
| style="background:beige;" | ''without declaration''
+
| 30,170
+
| 4.9
+
|-
+
| style="background:beige;" | ''other''
+
| 3,358
+
| 0.5
+
|}
+
{{hidden end}}
+
 
+
=== Languages ===
+
{{Main|Languages of Montenegro}}
+
[[File:MontenegroLanguage2011.PNG|thumb|upright=0.8|Linguistic structure of Montenegro by settlements, 2011.]]
+
The official language in Montenegro is [[Montenegrin language|Montenegrin]]. Also, [[Serbian language|Serbian]], [[Bosnian language|Bosnian]], [[Albanian language|Albanian]] and [[Croatian language|Croatian]] are recognized in usage. Montenegrin, Serbian, Bosnian, and Croatian are [[mutually intelligible]], all being [[standard varieties]] of [[Serbo-Croatian language]]. Montenegrin is the plurality mother-tongue of the population under 18 years of age.<ref>[http://www.vijesti.me/vijesti/vecina-mladih-18-godina-govori-crnogorskim-jezikom-clanak-30645] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102151127/http://www.vijesti.me/vijesti/vecina-mladih-18-godina-govori-crnogorskim-jezikom-clanak-30645 |date=2 November 2013 }} [[Vijesti]]: The majority of youth below 18 years of age speaks the Montenegrin language (26 July 2011)</ref> In 2013, [[Matica crnogorska]] announced the results of public opinion research regarding the identity attitudes of the citizens of Montenegro, indicating that the majority of the population claims Montenegrin as their mother tongue.<ref>[http://www.maticacrnogorska.me/files/Istrazivanje%20javnog%20mnjenja.pdf] [[Matica crnogorska]]: Third deep research of public opinion regarding the identity attitudes of the citizens of Montenegro (2013)</ref> Previous constitutions endorsed Serbo-Croatian as the official language in [[SR Montenegro]] and Serbian of [[Ijekavian]] standard during the [[Republic of Montenegro (federal)|1992–2006 period]].
+
 
+
{{hidden begin
+
| title = Languages (2011 census)
+
| toggle = left
+
}}
+
According to the 2011 Census the following languages are spoken in the country:<ref name="census2011" />
+
 
+
{| border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" class="toccolours" style="align:left; margin:0.5em 0 0; border-style:solid; border:1px solid #7f7f7f; border-right-width:2px; border-bottom-width:2px; border-collapse:collapse; font-size:100%;"
+
|- style="background:beige;"
+
||
+
|  style="text-align:center;" | Number
+
|  style="text-align:center;" | %
+
|- style="background:#c1c1c1;"
+
|| '''Total'''
+
|| '''620,029'''
+
|| 100
+
|-
+
| style="background:beige;" | [[Serbian language|Serbian]]
+
| 265,895
+
| 42.9
+
|-
+
| style="background:beige;" | [[Montenegrin language|Montenegrin]]
+
| 229,251
+
| 37.0
+
|-
+
| style="background:beige;" | [[Bosnian language|Bosnian]]
+
| 33,077
+
| 5.3
+
|-
+
| style="background:beige;" | [[Albanian language|Albanian]]
+
| 32,671
+
| 5.3
+
|-
+
| style="background:beige;" | [[Serbo-Croatian language|Serbo-Croatian]]
+
| 12,559
+
| 2.0
+
|-
+
| style="background:beige;" | [[Roma language|Roma]]
+
| 5,169
+
| 0.8
+
|-
+
| style="background:beige;" | ''[[Bosnian language|Bosniak]]''
+
| 3,662
+
| 0.6
+
|-
+
| style="background:beige;" | [[Croatian language|Croatian]]
+
| 2,791
+
| 0.5
+
|-
+
| style="background:beige;" | Russian
+
| 1,026
+
| 0.2
+
|-
+
| style="background:beige;" | ''[[Serbian language|Serbo]]-[[Montenegrin language|Montenegrin]]''
+
| 618
+
| 0.1
+
|-
+
| style="background:beige;" | [[Macedonian language|Macedonian]]
+
| 529
+
| 0.1
+
|-
+
| style="background:beige;" | ''[[Montenegrin language|Montenegrin]]-[[Serbian language|Serbian]]''
+
| 369
+
| 0.1
+
|-
+
| style="background:beige;" | [[Hungarian language|Hungarian]]
+
| 225
+
| <0.1
+
|-
+
| style="background:beige;" | ''[[Croatian language|Croatian]]-[[Serbian language|Serbian]]''
+
| 224
+
| <0.1
+
|-
+
| style="background:beige;" | English
+
| 185
+
| <0.1
+
|-
+
| style="background:beige;" | German
+
| 129
+
| <0.1
+
|-
+
| style="background:beige;" | [[Slovene language|Slovene]]
+
| 107
+
| <0.1
+
|-
+
| style="background:beige;" | [[Romanian language|Romanian]]
+
| 101
+
| <0.1
+
|-
+
| style="background:beige;" | ''mother tongue''
+
| 3,318
+
| 0.5
+
|-
+
| style="background:beige;" | ''regional languages''
+
| 458
+
| 0.1
+
|-
+
| style="background:beige;" | ''without declaration''
+
| 24,748
+
| 4.0
+
|-
+
| style="background:beige;" | ''other''
+
| 2,917
+
| 0.5
+
|}
+
{{hidden end}}
+
 
+
=== Religion ===
+
{{Main|Religion in Montenegro}}
+
[[File:Monasterio de Ostrog, Montenegro, 2014-04-14, DD 11.JPG|thumb|right|[[Ostrog Monastery]] is a well-known place of [[Christian pilgrimage|pilgramage]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://balkaninsight.com/2017/05/12/annual-pilgrimage-in-montenegro-brings-thousands-to-ostrog-monastery-05-11-2017/|title=Pilgrims Flock to Ostrog, Montenegro’s Healing Shrine|date=2017-05-12|website=Balkan Insight|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-02}}</ref>]]
+
Montenegro has been historically at the crossroads of multiculturalism and over centuries this has shaped its unique form of co-existence between Muslim and Christian populations.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Strengthening Religious Tolerance for a Secure Civil Society in Albania and the Southern Balkans |last=Pettifer |first=James |publisher=IOS Press |year=2007 |isbn=978-1-58603-779-6 |location= |pages=}}</ref> Montenegrins have been, historically, members of the [[Serbian Orthodox Church]] (governed by the [[Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral]]), and Serbian Orthodox Christianity is the most popular religion today in Montenegro.  The [[Montenegrin Orthodox Church]] was recently founded and is followed by a small minority of Montenegrins although it is not in communion with any other Christian Orthodox Church as it has not been officially recognized.
+
 
+
Despite tensions between religious groups during the [[Bosnian War]], Montenegro remained fairly stable, mainly due its population having a historic perspective on religious tolerance and faith diversity.<ref>{{Cite book |title=International Religious Freedom 2000: Annual Report: Submitted by the U.S. Department Of State |last=Larkin |first=Barbara |publisher=Diane Publishing |year=2001 |isbn=978-0-7567-1229-7 |location= |pages=}}</ref> Religious institutions from Montenegro all have guaranteed rights and are separate from the state. The second largest religion is Islam, which amounts to 19% of the total population of the country. One third of [[Albanians]] are [[Catholics]] (8,126 in the 2004 census) while the two other thirds (22,267) are mainly [[Sunni Muslims]]; in 2012 a protocol passed that recognizes [[Islam]] as an official religion in Montenegro, ensures that [[halal]] foods will be served at military facilities, hospitals, dormitories and all social facilities; and that Muslim women will be permitted to wear headscarves in schools and at public institutions, as well as ensuring that Muslims have the right to take Fridays off work for the [[Jumu'ah]] (Friday)-prayer.<ref>[http://www.todayszaman.com/newsDetail_getNewsById.action;jsessionid=DA2F43BACD1FEFE22CCCDB093D5DA0B3?newsId=274558 Rifat Fejzic, the reis (president) of the Islamic community in Montenegro] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921055243/http://www.todayszaman.com/newsDetail_getNewsById.action;jsessionid=DA2F43BACD1FEFE22CCCDB093D5DA0B3?newsId=274558 |date=21 September 2013 }} Today's Zaman</ref> There is also a small Roman Catholic population, mostly Albanians with some Croats, divided between the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bar|Archdiocese of Antivari]] headed by the Primate of Serbia and the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Kotor|Diocese of Kotor]] that is a part of the [[Catholic Church in Croatia]].
+
Religious determination according to the 2011 census:<ref name="census2011" />
+
{| border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" class="toccolours" style="align:left;margin:0.5em 0 0; border-style:solid; border:1px solid #7f7f7f; border-right-width:2px; border-bottom-width:2px; border-collapse:collapse; font-size:100%;"
+
|-  style="background:beige; text-align:center;"
+
|| <small>Religion</small>
+
|| Number
+
|| %
+
|- style="background:#c1c1c1;"
+
|| '''Total'''
+
|| '''620,029'''
+
|| 100
+
|-
+
| style="background:beige;" | [[Orthodoxy in Montenegro|Eastern Orthodox]]
+
| 446,858
+
| 72.1
+
|-
+
| style="background:beige;" | [[Catholicism in Montenegro|Catholics]]
+
| 21,299
+
| 3.4
+
|-
+
| style="background:beige;" | Protestants
+
| 143
+
| 0.1
+
|-
+
| style="background:beige;" | [[Adventists]]
+
| 894
+
| 0.1
+
|-
+
| style="background:beige;" | [[Jehovah's Witnesses]]
+
| 145
+
| <0.1
+
|-
+
| style="background:beige;" | Other Christians
+
| 1,460
+
| 0.2
+
|-
+
| style="background:beige;" | [[Islam in Montenegro|Islam/Muslims]]
+
| 118,477<br />
+
| 19.1<br />
+
|-
+
| style="background:beige;" | [[Buddhists]]
+
| 118
+
| <0.1
+
|-
+
| style="background:beige;" | [[Atheists]]
+
| 7,667
+
| 1.2
+
|-
+
| style="background:beige;" | Agnostics
+
| 451
+
| 0.1
+
|-
+
| style="background:beige;" | ''other''
+
| 6,337
+
| 1.0
+
|-
+
| style="background:beige;" | ''without declaration''
+
| 16,180
+
| 2.6
+
|}
+
:
+
  
 
== Education ==
 
== Education ==
{{Main|Education in Montenegro}}
+
Education in Montenegro is regulated by the Ministry of National Education.
  
Education in Montenegro is regulated by the [[Government of Montenegro|Montenegrin Ministry of Education and Science]].
+
The elementary school lasts five years (6 to 10). Until middle school, the educational curriculum is the same for all pupils: although one can attend a private or state-funded school, the subjects studied are the same (with the exception of special schools for the blind or the hearing-impaired). The students are given a basic education in Montenegrin, Italian, mathematics, natural sciences, history, geography, social studies, physical education and visual and musical arts.
  
Education starts in either pre-schools or elementary schools. Children enroll in elementary schools ([[Montenegrin language|Montenegrin]]: ''Osnovna škola'') at the age of 6; it lasts 9 years. The students may continue their secondary education ([[Montenegrin language|Montenegrin]]: ''Srednja škola''), which lasts 4 years (3 years for trade schools) and ends with graduation ([[Matura]]). Higher education lasts with a certain first degree after 3 to 6 years. There is one public university ([[University of Montenegro]]) and two private ones ([[Mediterranean University]] and [[University of Donja Gorica]]).
+
Pupils have to pass an exam to access Middle School, comprising the composition of a short essay in Montenegrin, a written maths test, and an oral test on the other subjects.
  
=== Elementary and secondary education ===
+
Secondary education is divided in two stages: Middle School and high-school level. The Middle School lasts three years (roughly from age 11 to 13), and provides further education on the subjects studied at the Elementary School, with the addition of Technology and an European language other than Italian. At the end of the third year students sit an exam which enables them to continue their education.  
Elementary education in Montenegro is free and compulsory for all the children between the ages of 7 and 15 when children attend the "eight-year school".
+
  
Various types of elementary education are available to all who qualify, but the vocational and technical schools (gymnasiums), where the students follow four-year course which will take them up to the university entrance, are the most popular. At the secondary level there are a number of art schools, apprentice schools and teacher training schools. Those who have attended the technical schools may pursue their education further at one of two-year post-secondary schools, created in response to the needs of industry and the social services.
+
The high school lasts five years (even though some Work Training Institutes might offer a diploma after only three years). All tiers involve an exam at the end of the final year, required to gain a diploma and have access to further education. The secondary school situation varies, since there are several types of schools differentiated by subjects and activities. The main division is between the High School, the Technical School the Work Training Institute. Any kind of secondary school that lasts 5 years grants access to the final exam, called Secondary Diploma Exam. This exam takes place every year around the middle of the year and grants access to University.
  
Secondary schools are divided in three types, and children attend one depending on choice and primary school grades:
+
Higher education lasts with a certain first degree after 3 to 6 years. There is one public university (University of Podgorizza) and two private ones (Università Mediterranea and Università di Cattaro.
  
* [[Gymnasium (school)|Gymnasium]] (Gimnazija / Гимназиjа) lasts for four years and offers a general, broad education. It is a preparatory school for university, and hence the most academic and prestigious.
+
== Public holidays ==
* Professional schools (Stručna škola / Стручна школа) last for three or four years and specialize students in certain fields which may result in their attending college; professional schools offer a relatively broad education.
+
* Vocational schools (Zanatska škola / Занатска школа) last for three years and focus on vocational education (e.g., joinery, plumbing, mechanics) without an option of continuing education after three years.
+
[[File:Cetinje, Montenegro - panoramio (15).jpg|thumb|[[National Library of Montenegro]] in [[Cetinje]]]]
+
 
+
=== Tertiary education ===
+
Tertiary level institutions are divided into "Higher education" (Više obrazovanje) and "High education" (Visoko obrazovanje) level faculties.
+
 
+
* Colleges (Fakultet) and art academies (akademija umjetnosti) last between 4 and 6 years (one year is two semesters long) and award diplomas equivalent to a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science degree.
+
 
+
Higher schools (Viša škola) lasts between two and four years.
+
 
+
=== Post-graduate education ===
+
Post-graduate education (post-diplomske studije) is offered after tertiary level and offers [[Masters' degree]]s, PhD and specialization education.
+
 
+
== Culture ==
+
{{Main|Culture of Montenegro}}
+
[[File:Vladin Dom (Dom Rządowy) w Cetinje 02.jpg|thumb|left|[[National Museum of Montenegro]]]]
+
 
+
=== Art ===
+
The culture of Montenegro has been shaped by a variety of influences throughout history. The influence of Orthodox, Ottoman (Turk), Slavic, Central European, and seafaring Adriatic cultures (notably parts of Italy, like the [[Republic of Venice]]) have been the most important in recent centuries.
+
[[File:Museo_Marítimo,_Kotor,_Bahía_de_Kotor,_Montenegro,_2014-04-19,_DD_31.JPG|thumb|Maritime Museum in [[Kotor]]]]
+
 
+
Montenegro has many significant cultural and historical sites, including heritage sites from the pre-[[Romanesque architecture|Romanesque]], [[Gothic art|Gothic]] and [[Baroque]] periods. The Montenegrin coastal region is especially well known for its religious monuments, including the [[Cathedral of Saint Tryphon]] in [[Kotor]]<ref>{{cite web |first=Aleksandar |last=Šestović |url=http://www.kotoronline.com |title=Kotor |publisher=Kotoronline.com |accessdate=11 September 2010}}</ref> (Cattaro under the Venetians), the basilica of St. Luke (over 800 years), [[Our Lady of the Rocks]] (Škrpjela), the [[Savina monastery (Montenegro)|Savina Monastery]] and others. Medieval monasteries contain a number of artistically important frescoes.
+
 
+
A dimension of Montenegrin culture is the ethical ideal of ''Čojstvo i Junaštvo'', "Humaneness and Gallantry".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://web.f.bg.ac.rs/print.php?sid=58&id=1014&zid=28&kid=338 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121221112024/http://web.f.bg.ac.rs/print.php?sid=58&id=1014&zid=28&kid=338 |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 December 2012 |title=Чојство и јнаштво старих Црногораца, Цетиње 1968. 3–11 |publisher=Web.f.bg.ac.rs |accessdate=11 September 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.montenegrina.net/pages/pages1/istorija/petrovici_xviii_vijek/oblikovanje_crnogorske_nacije_u_doba_petrovica_njegosa.ht|title=Oblikovanje crnogorske nacije u doba petrovica njegosa, "Cojstvo je osobeno svojstvo Crnogoraca, koje su uzdigli u najvecu vrlinu i uzor."}}{{Dead link|date=September 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The traditional folk dance of the Montenegrins is the [[Hora (dance)|Oro]], the "eagle dance" that involves dancing in circles with couples alternating in the centre, and is finished by forming a human pyramid by dancers standing on each other's shoulders.
+
 
+
=== Literature ===
+
Montenegro's capital, Podgorica, and the former royal capital of Cetinje are the two most important centres of culture and the arts in the country.
+
 
+
The American author [[Rex Stout]] wrote a long series of detective novels featuring his fictional creation [[Nero Wolfe]], who was born in Montenegro. His Nero Wolfe novel "[[The Black Mountain (novel)|The Black Mountain]]" was largely set in Montenegro during the 1950s.
+
 
+
=== Media ===
+
{{Main|Media of Montenegro}}
+
The media of Montenegro refers to mass media outlets based in Montenegro. Television, magazines, and newspapers are all operated by both state-owned and for-profit corporations which depend on advertising, [[subscription]], and other sales-related revenues. The [[Constitution of Montenegro]] guarantees freedom of speech.
+
As a [[country in transition]], Montenegro's media system is under transformation.
+
 
+
=== Cuisine ===
+
{{Main|Montenegrin cuisine}}
+
[[File:Foods from Montenegro.jpg|thumb|Foods from Montenegro]]
+
Montenegrin cuisine is a result of Montenegro's long history. It is a variation of Mediterranean and Oriental. The most influence is from Italy, [[Turkey]], [[Byzantine Empire]]/[[Greece]], and Hungary. Montenegrin cuisine also varies geographically; the cuisine in the coastal area differs from the one in the northern highland region. The coastal area is traditionally a representative of [[Mediterranean cuisine]], with seafood being a common dish, while the northern represents more the Oriental.
+
 
+
=== Sport ===
+
{{Main|Sport in Montenegro}}
+
[[File:Nikola Vucevic Dec 2013 (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|[[Nikola Vučević]], a professional [[basketball]] player for the [[Orlando Magic]] of the [[National Basketball Association]] ([[NBA]]).]]
+
 
+
The '''Sports in Montenegro''' revolves mostly around team sports, such as [[Association football|football]], [[basketball]], [[water polo]], [[volleyball]], and [[Team handball|handball]]. Other sports involved are [[boxing]], [[tennis]], swimming, [[judo]], [[karate]], [[Athletics (sport)|athletics]], [[table tennis]], and [[chess]].
+
 
+
The most popular sport is [[Association football|football]]. Notable players from Montenegro were [[Dejan Savićević]], [[Predrag Mijatović]], [[Mirko Vučinić]], [[Stefan Savić]] or [[Stevan Jovetić]]. [[Montenegrin national football team]], founded at 2006, played in playoffs for [[UEFA Euro 2012]], which is the biggest success in the history of national team.
+
 
+
[[Water polo]] is often considered the national sport. Montenegro's [[Montenegro national water polo team|national team]] is one of the top ranked teams in the world, winning the gold medal at the [[2008 Men's European Water Polo Championship]] in [[Málaga]], Spain, and winning the gold medal at the [[2009 FINA Men's Water Polo World League]], which was held in the Montenegrin capital, [[Podgorica]]. The Montenegrin team [[PVK Primorac]] from [[Kotor]] became a champion of Europe at the [[LEN Euroleague]] 2009 in [[Rijeka]], Croatia.
+
 
+
The [[Montenegro national basketball team]] is also known for good performances and had won a lot of medals in the past as part of the [[Yugoslavia national basketball team]]. In 2006, the [[Basketball Federation of Montenegro]] along with this team joined the [[International Basketball Federation]] (FIBA) on its own, following the [[Montenegrin independence referendum, 2006|Independence of Montenegro]]. Montenegro participated on two Eurobaskets until now.
+
[[File:MontenegrinFans2.jpg|thumb|[[Podgorica City Stadium]], Montenegro fans with national features.]]
+
 
+
Among women sports, [[Montenegro women's national handball team|the national handball team]] is the most successful, having won the [[2012 European Women's Handball Championship|2012 European Championship]] and finishing as runners-up at the [[Handball at the 2012 Summer Olympics|2012 Summer Olympics]]. [[ŽRK Budućnost Podgorica]] won two times EHF Champions League.
+
 
+
[[Chess]] is another popular sport and some famous global chess players, like [[Slavko Dedić]], were born in Montenegro.
+
 
+
At the [[Handball at the 2012 Summer Olympics|2012 Olympic Games]] in London, [[Montenegro women's national handball team]] won the country's first Olympic medal by winning silver. They lost in the final to defending World, Olympic and European Champions, [[Norway women's national handball team|Norway]] 26–23. Following this defeat the team won against Norway in the final of the [[2012 European Women's Handball Championship|2012 European Championship]], becoming champions for the first time.
+
 
+
=== Public holidays ===
+
 
{{Main|Public holidays in Montenegro}}
 
{{Main|Public holidays in Montenegro}}
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
{| class="wikitable"
Line 853: Line 195:
 
|}
 
|}
 
<sub>*2020 dates – exact dates vary each year according to the [[Julian calendar|Orthodox calendar]]</sub>
 
<sub>*2020 dates – exact dates vary each year according to the [[Julian calendar|Orthodox calendar]]</sub>
 
== See also ==
 
  
 
[[Category:Itali]]
 
[[Category:Itali]]

Revision as of 15:51, 6 April 2020

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Principality of Montenegro
Kneževina Crna Gora
Principato del Montenegro
AnthemGiovinezza
Capital
and largest city
Podgorizza
Official languages Italian (national)
Montenegrin (national)
Serbian, Bosnian, Albanian, Croatian (in official use)
Writing system Latin scropt
Ethnic groups (2018) 43.0% Montenegrins
20.2% Serbs
14.5% Italians
6.6% Bosniaks of Montenegro
3.9% Albanians
0.9% Croats
4.6% Others
Demonym Montenegrin
Government Unitary fascist constitutional monarchy
 -  Prince of Montenegro Italo Debalti
 -  Prime Minister and Lieutenant General Radivoje Radončić
 -  President of the Corporative Assembly Vukić Drobnjak
Legislature Korporativna Skupština
Establishment history
 -  Formation of Duklja as a vassal of Byzantine Empire 625 
 -  Duklja gains independence 1042 
 -  Kingdom of Duklja proclaimed 1077 
 -  Kingdom of Zeta proclaimed 1373 
 -  Prince-Bishopric of Montenegro founded 1516 
 -  First Principality of Montenegro 1 January 1852 
 -  Kingdom of Montenegro 28 August 1910 
 -  Formation of Yugoslavia 1 December 1918 
 -  Autonomous Republic of Montenegro 28 October 1999 
 -  Second Principality of Montenegro 3 June 2003 
Area
 -  Total 13,812 km2
5,332.843 sq mi 
 -  Water (%) 2.6
Population
 -  January 2020 estimate 631,219
 -  Density 45/km2
124/sq mi
Currency Italian Lira (LIT)
Time zone Central European Time (UTC+1)
 -  Summer (DST) Central European Summer Time (UTC+2)
Drives on the right
Calling code +382
Internet TLD .me

Montenegro , officially the Principality of Montenegro, is a Realm of the Italian Empire of South Europe on the coast of the Balkans. It borders Yugoslavia to the North, Albania to the the Southest and to the East, the Adriatic Sea to the southwest. Montenegro has an area of 13,812 square kilometres and a population of 620,079 (2011 census). Its capital, Podgorizza, is one of the twenty-three municipalities in the country. Cettigne is designated as the Old Royal Capital.

Etymology

The country's English name derives from Venetian and translates as "Black Mountain". The native name Crna Gora, also meaning "black mountain," came to denote the majority of contemporary Montenegro in the 15th century.

History

During the Early Medieval period, three principalities were located on the territory of modern-day Montenegro. In 1042, Stefano Vojislav led a revolt that resulted in the independence of Duklja from the Byzantine Empire and the establishment of his dynasty. The independent Principality of Zeta emerged in the 14th and 15th centuries. After falling under Ottoman domination, Montenegro regained de facto independence in 1697 under the rule of the House of Petrović-Njegoš. Montenegro's de jure independence was recognised at the Congress of Berlin in 1878. In 1905, the country became a Kingdom. After World War I, it became part of Yugoslavia.

The bombing campaign against Yugoslavia resulted in massive destructions around both the federal capital Sarajevo and the Serbian capital Belgrade but the Yugoslav Federation did not crumble into pieces, also due to the Russian, Hungarian and Greek support and to the covert German-French support; this caused severe unrest in Montenegro, which proclaimed its independence and subsequently asked for the Italian annexation.

Yugoslavian-Italian talks were unusually brief: the Yugoslavian elite did not want a peripheral and poor member which clearly said that it did not want to be a member; therefore the Independent State of Montenegro ended on 27 October 1999, and the Autonomous Republic of Montenegro was born the following day. The Second Principality of Montenegro was established on 3 June 2003

Geography

Montenegro ranges from high peaks along its borders with Serbia and Albania, a segment of the Carso, to a narrow coastal plain that is only 1.5 to 6 km wide. The plain stops abruptly in the north, where Mount Leone and Mount Orjen plunge into the inlet of the Bay of Cattaro.

Montenegro's large karst region lies generally at elevations of 1000 m above sea level; some parts, however, rise to 2000 m, such as Mount Orjen 1894 m, the highest massif among the coastal limestone ranges. The Zeta River valley, at an elevation of 500 m, is the lowest segment.

The mountains of Montenegro include some of the most rugged terrain in Europe, averaging more than 2000 m in elevation. One of the country's notable peaks is Bobotov Kuk in the Durmitor mountains, which reaches a height of 2522 m. Owing to the hyperhumid climate on their western sides, the Montenegrin mountain ranges were among the most ice-eroded parts of the Balkan Peninsula during the last glacial period.

Politics

The Constitution of Montenegro describes the state as a "Fascist Monarchy, based on the reign of Nation. The Prince of Montenegro, Italo Debalti is the Monarch, head of State. The Prince of Montenegro heads the government, incarnates the country ìì, promulgates laws, calls elections, and appoints his nominees for the Government, president and justices of the Courts. The Prince of Montenegro also grants amnesty for criminal offences, confers decoration and awards and performs other duties and is a chairman of the Defence Council. The official residence of the President is in Cettigne.

The Government of Montenegro is the executive branch of government authority of Montenegro. The government is headed by the Lieutenant General and Prime Minister, and consists of the ministers.

The Corporative Assembly is a ìunicameral legislative body. It proposes laws, adopts the budget and performs other duties as established by the Constitution.

Economy

The economy of Montenegro is mostly service-based in a State/Corporatist economy.

Infrastructure

The Montenegrin road infrastructure is not at Western European standards. Despite an extensive road network, no roads are built to full motorway standards.

Current Imperial route that passes through Montenegro is the Imperial Balkan Route.

The backbone of the Montenegrin rail network is the Belgrade–Antivari railway, which provides international connection towards Serbia. There is a domestic branch line, the Nikšić-Podgorica railway. Also the other branch line from Podgorica towards the Albanian border, the Podgorizza–Scutari railway, is in use.

Montenegro has two international airports, Podgorizza Airport and Teodo Airport. The port of Antivari is Montenegro's main seaport.

Languages

The official languages in Montenegro are Montenegrin and Italian. Also, Serbian, Bosnian, Albanian and Croatian are recognized in usage. Montenegrin, Serbian, Bosnian, and Croatian are mutually intelligible, all being varieties of Serbo-Croatian language.

Religion

Montenegro has been historically at the crossroads of multiculturalism and over centuries this has shaped its unique form of co-existence between Muslim and Christian populations. Montenegrins have been, historically, members of the Serbian Orthodox Church, and Serbian Orthodox Christianity is the most popular religion today in Montenegro.

Despite tensions between religious groups during the Bosnian Wars, Montenegro remained fairly stable, mainly due its population having a historic perspective on religious tolerance and faith diversity. Religious institutions from Montenegro all have guaranteed rights and are separate from the state. The second largest religion is Islam, which amounts to 19% of the total population of the country. Half of Albanians are Catholics while the other half is mainly Sunni Muslims. There is also a Roman Catholic population, mostly Italians and Albanians with some Croats.

Education

Education in Montenegro is regulated by the Ministry of National Education.

The elementary school lasts five years (6 to 10). Until middle school, the educational curriculum is the same for all pupils: although one can attend a private or state-funded school, the subjects studied are the same (with the exception of special schools for the blind or the hearing-impaired). The students are given a basic education in Montenegrin, Italian, mathematics, natural sciences, history, geography, social studies, physical education and visual and musical arts.

Pupils have to pass an exam to access Middle School, comprising the composition of a short essay in Montenegrin, a written maths test, and an oral test on the other subjects.

Secondary education is divided in two stages: Middle School and high-school level. The Middle School lasts three years (roughly from age 11 to 13), and provides further education on the subjects studied at the Elementary School, with the addition of Technology and an European language other than Italian. At the end of the third year students sit an exam which enables them to continue their education.

The high school lasts five years (even though some Work Training Institutes might offer a diploma after only three years). All tiers involve an exam at the end of the final year, required to gain a diploma and have access to further education. The secondary school situation varies, since there are several types of schools differentiated by subjects and activities. The main division is between the High School, the Technical School the Work Training Institute. Any kind of secondary school that lasts 5 years grants access to the final exam, called Secondary Diploma Exam. This exam takes place every year around the middle of the year and grants access to University.

Higher education lasts with a certain first degree after 3 to 6 years. There is one public university (University of Podgorizza) and two private ones (Università Mediterranea and Università di Cattaro.

Public holidays

Holidays
Date Name Notes
1 January New Year's Day (non-working holiday)
7 January Orthodox Christmas (non-working)
10 April * Orthodox Good Friday (non-working)
12 April * Orthodox Easter (non-working)
1 May Labour Day (non-working)
9 May Victory Day
21 May Independence Day (non-working)
13 July Statehood Day (non-working)

*2020 dates – exact dates vary each year according to the Orthodox calendar