A look at Serbia and Montenegro

Key characteristics of Serbia and Montenegro, the new nation that replaced Yugoslavia on February 4.

NAME AND STATUS:

The new country is named after its member states: Serbia and Montenegro. Internationally, it remains a single entity with one seat in the United Nations and in other international organisations.

The new country takes over Yugoslavia’s rights and responsibilities stemming from existing treaties and agreements.

Serbia’s capital, Belgrade, serves as capital of the new country and is the seat of most joint institutions shared by the two republics.

ADMINISTRATION:

While both Serbia and Montenegro have their own parliaments and governments to run most affairs independently, they maintain a small joint administration consisting of a 126-seat parliament (91 MPs from Serbia, 35 from Montenegro) and a shared government, the Council of Ministers.

The bodies run common defence and foreign affairs and the joint armed force formerly known as the Yugoslav army. Military service remains mandatory for all male citizens, although conscientious objection is allowed for the first time.

Serbian and Montenegrin officials take turns holding top posts in the shared administration as well as in diplomatic missions abroad. The member republics have separate currencies and economies but are required to harmonise their regulations to facilitate a common market.

The new union has a president who represents Serbia and Montenegro abroad and heads the Council of Ministers, appoints ambassadors to foreign countries, signs legal acts and calls for elections.