Serbia (Republic of Serbia)
The Republic of Serbia covers an area of 88.361 square kilometres. It borders on Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Montenegro.
Serbia has two autonomous provinces: Kosovo-Metohija, and Vojvodina. UN Security Council Resolution No. 1244 places Kosovo-Metohija under international administration. On February 17, 2008 the Republic of Kosovo unilaterally declared independence and later on several dozen of states recognised Kosovo.
Main transport routes running through Serbia link Western and Central Europe with the Near and Middle East.
Serbia is divided into 29 administrative districts and 189 municipalities. Serbia is a parliamentary republic. Serbia's constitution was adopted in 2006. The 250-deputy National Assembly of Serbia is elected for a term of four years.
Serbia is rich in raw materials such as copper, lead-zinc, iron, chrome, black-iron ore, black and brown coal, antimony, molybdenum and asbestos. The republic has a substantial hydroelectric power potential (the Danube, Tisa, Morava and Drina Rivers). There are minor oil and natural gas deposits.
According to the March 2002 census, the republic's population is 7.5 million. Of this number, two million live in Vojvodina. The population of Kosovo-Metohija which is estimated at about 2 million was not included in the census.
As a result of migration over the centuries, Serbia is populated with numerous ethnic groups. The largest is the Serbs who constitute 83% of the total population. This does not include Kosovo-Metohija. Among other ethnic groups are Albanians, Romanians, Roma, Slovaks, Croatians, Rusyns, Bulgarians, Turks, etc. In all, there are 28 ethnic groups in the country.
The majority of the Serbs belong to the Orthodox Church. Besides the Serbian Orthodox Church there are Islamic and Roman-Catholic congregations.
In the 6-7th centuries Serbia was populated by Slavs. The word 'Serbs' was first mentioned in 9th century sources. The Serbian nation evolved throughout the 8-14th centuries. Local principalities, Rascia, Duklja, Travunia, Zahumlje, were weak. During some periods, Serbia was subjugated to Bulgaria and the Byzantine Empire.
Medieval Serbia experienced its golden age during the reign of Stephen Dušan (1331-1355). After his death, Serbia split into minor principalities whose combined force was defeated at Kosovo Field in 1389. After that, Serbia was ruled by the Ottoman Empire for almost five centuries.
In the late 18th century, Russia played an important role in Serbia's liberation struggle which led to stronger ties, mostly religious ties, between the two nations.
After the First Serbian Uprising of 1804-1813 and the Russo-Turkish War of 1812, Turkey was forced to grant autonomy to Serbia. After the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878, Serbia gained independence.
The Balkan Wars of 1912-1913 aggravated tensions between Austria-Hungary and Serbia after the latter entered the war on the Entente side. In late 1915, Serbia was completely occupied by German and Bulgarian troops. In July 1917, the Serbian government signed in emigration the Corfu Declaration which provided for the postwar unification of Serbia and the Yugoslav (South Slav) lands of Austria-Hungary into a unified Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes headed by the Royal House of Karageorgevich.
In April 1941, Serbia, along with the rest of Yugoslavia, was invaded by Nazi Germany. A puppet government headed by General Milan Nedić was formed. Guerilla warfare cropped up in July 1941. In October 1944, Serbia was liberated by the Red Army and the Liberation Army of Yugoslavia. The Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia was proclaimed on November 29, 1945, and Serbia became one of its six republics.
Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Macedonia seceded from the FPRY in 1991-1992. Serbia and Montenegro remained committed to the union and proclaimed the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia on April 27, 1992.
The latter was reconstituted and on February 4, 2003 the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro was proclaimed.
On May 21, 2006, a Montenegrin independence referendum was held, putting an end to the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro. The Republic of Serbia became the successor to the State Union.
Belgrade has been expanding its ties and relations with Russia making the latter its main partner. Bilateral ties have existed from medieval times. By supporting Serbian churches and monasteries, Russian monarchs enhanced their influence which reached a peak in the 18th century. At that time the Serbian language became similar to Russian.
In terms of the economy, Serbia has always been a large agricultural, meat and dairy producer. The private sector produces 70% of the agricultural products.
Serbia is implementing a privatisation programme. Most of the programme revenue goes to the financing of state investment plan and is spent to cover the budget deficit. Serbia's external debt continues to grow. Increasing about 2% in 2010 it reached $32.4 billion. External public debt reached $16.2 billion, or 38% of the GDP. Unemployment remains high (about 20%). Negative economic trends breed social tension.
In late 2010, the GDP increased by 1.5% over 2009 when it fell by 3% to $42 billion. The growth came in the trade and services sphere. Industrial production expanded by 3.7% due to a 15% increase in extraction industries. The processing industries slumped by 3.6%. Power generation volumes as well as gas and water production dropped 6.6%. Agricultural output rose by 1%. Increases in vegetable, fruit and corn production boosted exports. The GDP is dominated by the trade and services sector which accounts for 60%.
In 2010 budget revenues reached 660 billion dinars ($8.25 billion). Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue accounted for 57% of that. The percent of excise duty, income tax, customs duties, profit tax, was 22%, 12%, 6%, and 3%, respectively.
