Serbia
Serbia (pronounced: en-us-Serbia.ogg /ˈsɜrbiə/ (help·info)), officially the Republic of Serbia (Serbian: Ðåïóáëèêà Ñðáè¼à, Republika Srbija), is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe and Southeastern Europe, covering the southern part of the Pannonian Plain and central part of the Balkans. Serbia has borders with 8 countries, Hungary to the north; Romania, Bulgaria to the east; Republic of Macedonia to the south; and Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro to the west; its border with Albania is disputed. Although landlocked, Danube river provides Serbia with an access to the Black Sea. Its capital city, Belgrade, is among the largest in Southeastern Europe. In February 2008, the parliament of Kosovo, Serbia’s southern province with an ethnic Albanian majority, declared independence. The response from the international community has been mixed. Serbia regards Kosovo as its autonomous province govermend by UNMIK, a UN mission.
After their settlement in the Balkans, Serbs formed a medieval kingdom that evolved into a Serbian Empire, which reached its peak in the 14th century. By the 16th century Serbian lands were conquered and occupied by Ottomans. Serbia regained independence from the Ottoman Empire in a 19th century revolution and subsequently regained some of its territory. Serbia was the second state in Europe that abolished feudalism and serfdom. Former Habsburg crownland of Vojvodina joined Serbia in 1918. Following the end of World War I, the country united with other South Slavic peoples into a Yugoslav state which would exist in several formations up until 2006, when Serbia once again became independent.
Serbia is a member of the United Nations, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, and Council of Europe. In 2010 it will preside over the Central European Free Trade Agreement. Serbia is classified as an emerging and developing economy by the International Monetary Fund and an upper-middle income economy by the World Bank.[6] World Trade Organization accession and membership is expected in 2010.[7] Serbia has a high Human Development Index[8] and Freedom House in 2008 listed Serbia as one of few free Balkan states.[9] The country is also an EU membership applicant and a militarily neutral country.[10][11]
[Vila]
Serbia
country name :
Serbia
capital :
Belgrade
area :
88,361.0 km²
population :
10,159,000
currency :
Dinar (RSD)
languages :
Serbian, Hungarian, Bosnian, Romany
neighbours :
Albania, Hungary, Macedonia, Romania, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Montenegro
