2010 Edition

Background

The Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes was formed in 1918; its name was changed to Yugoslavia in 1929. Various paramilitary bands resisted Nazi Germany's occupation and division of Yugoslavia from 1941 to 1945, but fought each other and ethnic opponents as much as the invaders. The military and political movement headed by Josip "TITO" Broz (Partisans) took full control of Yugoslavia when German and Croatian separatist forces were defeated in 1945. Although Communist, TITO's new government and his successors (he died in 1980) managed to steer their own path between the Warsaw Pact nations and the West for the next four and a half decades. In 1989, Slobodan MILOSEVIC became president of the Republic of Serbia and his ultranationalist calls for Serbian domination led to the violent breakup of Yugoslavia along ethnic lines. In 1991, Croatia, Slovenia, and Macedonia declared independence, followed by Bosnia in 1992. The remaining republics of Serbia and Montenegro declared a new Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) in April 1992 and under MILOSEVIC's leadership, Serbia led various military campaigns to unite ethnic Serbs in neighboring republics into a "Greater Serbia." These actions led to Yugoslavia being ousted from the UN in 1992, but Serbia continued its - ultimately unsuccessful - campaign until signing the Dayton Peace Accords in 1995. MILOSEVIC kept tight control over Serbia and eventually became president of the FRY in 1997. In 1998, an ethnic Albanian insurgency in the formerly autonomous Serbian province of Kosovo provoked a Serbian counterinsurgency campaign that resulted in massacres and massive expulsions of ethnic Albanians living in Kosovo. The MILOSEVIC government's rejection of a proposed international settlement led to NATO's bombing of Serbia in the spring of 1999, to the withdrawal of Serbian military and police forces from Kosovo in June 1999, and to the stationing of a NATO-led force in Kosovo to provide a safe and secure environment for the region's ethnic communities. FRY elections in late 2000 led to the ouster of MILOSEVIC and the installation of democratic government. MILOSEVIC was arrested in 2001 and sent to be tried in The Hague for crimes against humanity; he died in March 2006 before the completion of his trial. In 2001, the country's suspension from the UN was lifted. In 2003, the FRY became Serbia and Montenegro, a loose federation of the two republics with a federal level parliament. Widespread violence predominantly targeting ethnic Serbs in Kosovo in March 2004 caused the international community to open negotiations on the future status of Kosovo in January 2006. In May 2006, Montenegro invoked its right to secede from the federation and - following a successful referendum - it declared itself an independent nation on 3 June 2006. Two days later, Serbia declared that it was the successor state to the union of Serbia and Montenegro. A new Serbian constitution was approved in October 2006 and adopted the following month. In February 2008, after nearly two years of inconclusive negotiations, the UN-administered province of Kosovo declared itself independent of Serbia - an action Serbia refuses to recognize. At Serbia's request, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in October 2008 sought an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on whether Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence was in accordance with international law. In a ruling considered unfavorable to Serbia, the ICJ issued an advisory opinion in July 2010 stating that international law did not prohibit declarations of independence. In late 2010, Serbia agreed to an EU-drafted UNGA Resolution acknowledging the ICJ's decision and calling for a new round of talks between Serbia and Kosovo.

Area

land

77,474 sq km

total

77,474 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than South Carolina

Climate

in the north, continental climate (cold winters and hot, humid summers with well distributed rainfall); in other parts, continental and Mediterranean climate (relatively cold winters with heavy snowfall and hot, dry summers and autumns)

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Midzor 2,169 m

lowest point

Danube and Timok Rivers 35 m

Environment - current issues

air pollution around Belgrade and other industrial cities; water pollution from industrial wastes dumped into the Sava which flows into the Danube

Environment - international agreements

party to

Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates

44 00 N, 21 00 E

Geography - note

controls one of the major land routes from Western Europe to Turkey and the Near East

Irrigated land

NA

Land boundaries

border countries

Bosnia and Herzegovina 302 km, Bulgaria 318 km, Croatia 241 km, Hungary 151 km, Kosovo 352 km, Macedonia 62 km, Montenegro 124 km, Romania 476 km

total

2,026 km

Land use

arable land

NA

other

NA

permanent crops

NA

Location

Southeastern Europe, between Macedonia and Hungary

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

destructive earthquakes

Natural resources

oil, gas, coal, iron ore, copper, zinc, antimony, chromite, gold, silver, magnesium, pyrite, limestone, marble, salt, arable land

Terrain

extremely varied; to the north, rich fertile plains; to the east, limestone ranges and basins; to the southeast, ancient mountains and hills

Total renewable water resources

208.5 cu km (note - includes Kosovo) (2003)

Age structure

0-14 years: 15.4% (male 586,806/female 549,900) 15-64 years: 67.8% (male 2,503,194/female 2,502,807) 65 years and over: 16.8% (male 508,606/female 728,026) (2010 est.)

Birth rate

9.2 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Death rate

13.89 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)

Education expenditures

4.5% of GDP (2007)

Ethnic groups

Serb 82.9%, Hungarian 3.9%, Romany (Gypsy) 1.4%, Yugoslavs 1.1%, Bosniaks 1.8%, Montenegrin 0.9%, other 8% (2002 census)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.1% (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 100 (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

6,400 (2009 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

5.56 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

male

7.68 deaths/1,000 live births

total

6.65 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Serbian 88.3% (official), Hungarian 3.8%, Bosniak 1.8%, Romany (Gypsy) 1.1%, other 4.1%, unknown 0.9% (2002 census) note: Romanian, Hungarian, Slovak, Ukrainian, and Croatian all official in Vojvodina

Life expectancy at birth

female

77.1 years (2010 est.)

male

71.26 years

total population

74.09 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

female

94.1% (2003 census) note: includes Montenegro

male

98.9%

total population

96.4%

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk

intermediate

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial diarrhea

vectorborne disease

Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2009)

Median age

female

42.9 years (2010 est.)

male

39.4 years

total

41.1 years

Nationality

adjective

Serbian

noun

Serb(s)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Population

7,344,847 note: does not include the population of Kosovo (July 2010 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.469% (2010 est.)

Religions

Serbian Orthodox 85%, Catholic 5.5%, Protestant 1.1%, Muslim 3.2%, unspecified 2.6%, other, unknown, or atheist 2.6% (2002 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

14 years (2008)

male

13 years

total

14 years

Sex ratio

at birth

1.065 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and above: 0.7 male(s)/female

total population

0.95 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.39 children born/woman (2010 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0.5% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

urban population

52% of total population (2008)

Administrative divisions

167 municipalities (opcstine, singular - opcstina)

Backa

Backa Topola, Mali Idjos, Subotica; North Banat: Ada, Coka, Kanjiza, Kikinda, Novi Knezevac, Senta; Central Banat: Nova Crnja, Novi Becej, Secanj, Zitiste, Zrenjanin; Srem: Indija, Irig, Pecinci, Ruma, Sid, Sremska Mitrovica, Stara Pazova; West Backa: Apatin, Kula, Odzaci, Sombor

Macva

Bogatic, Koceljeva, Krupanj, Ljubovija, Loznica, Mali Zvornik, Sabac, Vladimirci; Moravica: Cacak, Gornkji Milanovac, Ivanjica, Lucani; Nisava: Aleksinac, Doljevac, Gadzin Han, Merosina, Nis, Razanj, Svrljig; Pcinja: Bosilegrad, Bujanovac, Presevo, Surdulica, Trgoviste, Vladicin Han, Vranje; Pirot: Babusnica, Bela Palanka, Dimitrovgrad, Pirot; Podunavlje: Smederevo, Smederevskia Palanka, Velika Plana; Pomoravlje: Cuprija, Despotovac, Jagodina, Paracin, Rekovac, Svilajnac; Rasina: Aleksandrovac, Brus, Cicevac, Krusevac, Trstenik, Varvarin; Raska: Kraljevo, Novi Pazar, Raska, Tutin, Vrnjacka Banja; Sumadija: Arandelovac, Batocina, Knic, Kragujevac, Lapovo, Raca, Topola; Toplica: Blace, Kursumlija, Prokuplje, Zitorada; Zajecar: Boljevac, Knjazevac, Sokobanja, Zajecar; Zlatibor: Arilje, Bajina Basta, Cajetina, Kosjeric, Nova Varos, Pozega, Priboj, Prijepolje, Sjenica, Uzice

Pantelej Jablanica

Bojnik, Crna Trava, Lebane, Leskovac, Medveda, Vlasotince; Kolubara: Lajkovac, Ljig, Mionica, Osecina, Ub, Valjevo;

Serbia Proper

Belgrade City (Beograd): Barajevo, Cukarica, Grocka, Lazarevac, Mladenovac, Novi Beograd, Obrenovac, Palilula, Rakovica, Savski Venac, Sopot, Stari Grad, Surcin, Vozdovac, Vracar, Zemun, Zvezdara; Bor: Bor, Kladovo, Majdanpek, Negotin; Branicevo: Golubac, Kucevo, Malo Crnice, Petrovac, Pozarevac, Veliko Gradiste, Zabari, Zagubica; Grad Nis: Crveni Krst, Mediana, Niska Banja, Palilula,

Vojvodina Autonomous Province

South Backa: Bac, Backa Palanka, Backi Petrovac, Becej, Beocin, Novi Sad, Sremski Karlovci, Srobobran, Temerin, Titel, Vrbas, Zabalj; South Banat: Alibunar, Bela Crkva, Kovacica, Kovin, Opovo, Pancevo, Plandiste, Vrsac; North

Capital

daylight saving time

+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

geographic coordinates

44 50 N, 20 30 E

name

Belgrade (Beograd)

time difference

UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

adopted 8 November 2006; effective 10 November 2006

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Serbia

conventional short form

Serbia

former

People's Republic of Serbia, Socialist Republic of Serbia

local long form

Republika Srbija

local short form

Srbija

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Mary WARLICK

embassy

Kneza Milosa 50, 11000 Belgrade

FAX

[381] (11) 361-8230

mailing address

5070 Belgrade Place, Washington, DC 20521-5070

telephone

[381] (11) 361-9344

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2134 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Vladimir PETROVIC

consulate(s) general

Chicago, New York

FAX

[1] (202) 332-3933

telephone

[1] (202) 332-0333

Executive branch

cabinet

Republican Ministries act as cabinet (For more information visit the World Leaders website )

chief of state

President Boris TADIC (since 11 July 2004)

election results

Boris TADIC elected president in the second round of voting; Boris TADIC received 51.2% of the vote and Tomislav NIKOLIC 48.8%

elections

president elected by direct vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 3 February 2008 (next to be held in 2013); prime minister elected by the National Assembly

head of government

Prime Minister Mirko CVETKOVIC (since 7 July 2008)

Flag description

three equal horizontal stripes of red (top), blue, and white - the Pan-Slav colors representing freedom and revolutionary ideals; charged with the coat of arms of Serbia shifted slightly to the hoist side; the principal field of the coat of arms represents the Serbian state and displays a white two-headed eagle on a red shield; a smaller red shield on the eagle represents the Serbian nation, and is divided into four quarters by a white cross; a white Cyrillic "C" in each quarter stands for the phrase "Only Unity Saves the Serbs"; a royal crown surmounts the coat of arms note: the Pan-Slav colors were inspired by the 19th-century flag of Russia

Government type

republic

Independence

5 June 2006 (from Serbia and Montenegro)

International organization participation

BIS, BSEC, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, G-9, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM (observer), OAS (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, SECI, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Judicial branch

courts of general jurisdiction (municipal courts, district courts, Appellate Courts, the Supreme Court of Cassation); courts of special jurisdiction (commercial courts, the High Commercial Court, the High Magistrates Court, the Administrative Court)

Legal system

based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; note - Serbia is working to reform its justice sector and harmonize its judicial systems with EU standards

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly (250 seats; deputies elected according to party lists to serve four-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - For a European Serbia coalition 38.4%, SRS 29.5%, DSS-NS 11.6%, SPS-led coalition 7.6%, LPD 5.2%, other 7.7%; seats by party - For a European Serbia coalition 102, SRS 57, DSS-NS 30, SNS 21, SPS-led coalition 20, LDP 13, other 7

elections

last held on 11 May 2008 (next to be held in May 2012)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Jovan DORDEVIC/Davorin JENKO note: adopted 1904; the song was originally written as part of a play in 1872 and has been used as an anthem by the Serbian people throughout the 20th and 21st centuries

name

"Boze pravde" (God of Justice)

National holiday

National Day, 15 February

Political parties and leaders

Coalition for Sandzak or KZS [Sulejman UGLJANIN]; Democratic Party or DS [Boris TADIC]; Democratic Party of Albanians or PDSh [Ragmi MUSTAFA]; Democratic Party of Serbia or DSS [Vojislav KOSTUNICA]; Democratic Union of the Valley or BDL [Skender DESTANI]; Force of Serbia Movement or PSS [Bogoljub KARIC]; G17 Plus [Mladjan DINKIC]; League of Social Democrats of Vojvodina or LSV [Nenad CANAK]; League of Vojvodina Hungarians or SVM [Istvan PASTOR]; Liberal Democratic Party or LDP [Cedomir JOVANOVIC]; Movement for Democratic Progress or LPD [Jonuz MUSLIU]; New Serbia or NS [Velimir ILIC]; Party of Democratic Action or PVD [Riza HALIMI]; Party of United Pensioners of Serbia or PUPS [Jovan KRKOBABIC]; People's Party or NS [Maja GOJKOVIC]; Roma Party or RP [Srdjan SAJN]; Sandzak Democratic Party or SDP [Resad HODZIC]; Serbian Progressive Party or SNS [Tomislav NIKOLIC]; Serbian Radical Party or SRS [Vojislav SESELJ (currently on trial at The Hague), with Dragan TODOROVIC as acting leader]; Serbian Renewal Movement or SPO [Vuk DRASKOVIC]; Social Democratic Party of Serbia or SDPS [Rasim LJAJIC]; Socialist Party of Serbia or SPS [Ivica DACIC]; Union of Roma of Serbia or URS [Rajko DJURIC]; United Serbia or JS [Dragan "Palma" MARKOVIC]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Obraz (Orthodox clero-fascist organization); 1389 (Serbian nationalist movement)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

wheat, maize, sugar beets, sunflower, raspberries; beef, pork, milk

Central bank discount rate

9.92% (31 December 2009) 17.75% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

11.78% (31 December 2009) 18.11% (31 December 2008 est.)

Current account balance

-$1.046 billion (2010 est.) -$1.356 billion (2009 est.)

Debt - external

$32.31 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $32.01 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

26 (2008) 30 (2003)

Economy - overview

MILOSEVIC-era mismanagement of the economy, an extended period of international economic sanctions, and the damage to Yugoslavia's infrastructure and industry during the NATO airstrikes in 1999 left the economy only half the size it was in 1990. After the ousting of former Federal Yugoslav President MILOSEVIC in September 2000, the Democratic Opposition of Serbia (DOS) coalition government implemented stabilization measures and embarked on a market reform program. After renewing its membership in the IMF in December 2000, Yugoslavia continued to reintegrate into the international community by rejoining the World Bank (IBRD) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). Belgrade has made progress in trade liberalization and enterprise restructuring and privatization, including telecommunications and small- and medium-size firms. It has made some progress towards EU membership, signing a Stabilization and Association Agreement with Brussels in May 2008, and with full implementation of the Interim Trade Agreement with the EU in February 2010. Serbia is also pursuing membership in the World Trade Organization. Reforms needed to ensure the country's long-term viability have largely stalled since the onset of the global financial crisis. Serbia is grappling with fallout from crisis, which has led to a sharp drop in exports to Western Europe and a decline in manufacturing output. Unemployment and limited export earnings remain ongoing political and economic problems. Serbia signed an augmented $4 billion Stand By Arrangement with the IMF in May 2009. IMF conditions on Serbia constrain the use of stimulus efforts to revive the economy, while Serbia's concerns about inflation and exchange rate stability preclude the use of expansionary monetary policy. Serbia's economy grew by 1.8% in 2010 after a 3% contraction in 2009 as a recovery in Western Europe began.

Electricity - consumption

33.4 billion kWh (2009)

Electricity - exports

1.5 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - imports

121 million kWh (2009)

Electricity - production

36 billion kWh (2009)

Exchange rates

Serbian dinars (RSD) per US dollar - 79.979 (2010), 62.9 (2008), 54.5 (2007), 59.98 (2006)

Exports

$9.372 billion (2010 est.) $8.368 billion (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities

iron and steel, clothes, wheat, fruit and vegetables, non-ferrous metals

Exports - partners

Bosnia and Herzegovina 13.12%, Italy 10.96%, Germany 9.9%, Serbia and Montenegro 7%, Austria 5.4%, Slovenia 5.38%, Macedonia 5.26%, Russia 4.39%, Hungary 4.36% (2009)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

13%

industry

22.6%

services

64.5% (2010 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$11,000 (2010 est.) $10,700 (2009 est.) $11,000 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

1.8% (2010 est.) -3% (2009 est.) 5.5% (2008 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$38.92 billion (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$80.65 billion (2010 est.) $79.22 billion (2009 est.) $81.67 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Imports

$15.78 billion (2010 est.) $15.03 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - partners

Germany 11.79%, Italy 9.36%, Hungary 6.71%, Slovenia 6.52%, Austria 4.79% (2009)

Industrial production growth rate

1.3% (2010 est.)

Industries

base metals, furniture, food processing, machinery, chemicals, sugar, tires, clothes, pharmaceuticals

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

4.9% (2010 est.) 8.4% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

25.9% of GDP (2010 est.)

Labor force

3.25 million (2010 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

23.9%

industry

20.5%

services

55.6% (October 2009)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$11.52 billion (31 December 2009) $12.17 billion (31 December 2008) $23.93 billion (31 December 2007)

Natural gas - consumption

2.61 billion cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - imports

2.4 billion cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - production

230 million cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

48.14 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)

Oil - consumption

90,000 bbl/day NA bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - exports

5,045 bbl/day (2008)

Oil - imports

72,570 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Oil - production

12,170 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

77.5 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

7.9% (2008 est.)

Public debt

37.8% of GDP (2010 est.) 31.3% of GDP (2009 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$16.4 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $15.22 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$18.69 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $17.82 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$23.52 billion (31 December 2009 est.) $11.95 billion (2006 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$18.88 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $19.25 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$3.554 billion (31 December 2010 est) $3.821 billion (31 December 2009 est)

Unemployment rate

17.2% (2010 est.); 16.6% (2009 est.)

Internet country code

.rs

Internet hosts

528,253 (2010)

Internet users

4.107 million (2009)

Telephone system

domestic

wireless service, available through multiple providers with national coverage, is growing very rapidly; best telecommunications services are centered in urban centers; 3G mobile network launched in 2007

general assessment

replacements of, and upgrades to, telecommunications equipment damaged during the 1999 war has resulted in a modern telecommunications system more than 95% digitalized in 2009

international

country code - 381 (2009)

Telephones - main lines in use

3.106 million (2009)

Telephones - mobile cellular

9.912 million (2009)

Airports

29 (2010)

Airports - with paved runways

total

11 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

18 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 9 under 914 m: 8 (2010)

Heliports

2 (2010)

Pipelines

gas 1,921 km; oil 323 km (2009)

Railways

standard gauge

3,379 km 1.435-m gauge (electrified 1,254 km) (2006)

total

3,379 km

Roadways

paved

31,938 km

total

36,884 km

unpaved

4,946 km (2007)

Waterways

587 km (primarily on Danube and Sava rivers) (2009)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 1,405,391 females age 16-49: 1,368,207 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

41,342 (2010 est.)

male

43,925

Military branches

Serbian Armed Forces (Vojska Srbije, VS): Land Forces Command (includes Riverine Component, consisting of a river flotilla on the Danube), Air and Air Defense Forces Command (2010)

Military service age and obligation

17 years of age for male compulsory military service; 18 years of age for voluntary service; conscription to be abolished effective 2011; 6-month service obligation, with a reserve obligation to age 60 for men and 50 for women (2010)

Disputes - international

Serbia with several other states protest the U.S. and other states' recognition of Kosovo's declaring itself as a sovereign and independent state in February 2008; ethnic Serbian municipalities along Kosovo's northern border challenge final status of Kosovo-Serbia boundary; several thousand NATO-led KFOR peacekeepers under UNMIK authority continue to keep the peace within Kosovo between the ethnic Albanian majority and the Serb minority in Kosovo; Serbia delimited about half of the boundary with Bosnia and Herzegovina, but sections along the Drina River remain in dispute

Illicit drugs

transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin moving to Western Europe on the Balkan route; economy vulnerable to money laundering page last updated on January 20, 2011 ======================================================================

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin)

71,111 (Croatia); 27,414 (Bosnia and Herzegovina); 206,000 (Kosovo), note - mostly ethnic Serbs and Roma who fled Kosovo in 1999 (2007)