Foreign relations of Serbia and Montenegro

This article is about the state created in 1992. For the interwar Kingdom of Yugoslavia and Cold War SFR Yugoslavia, see Foreign relations of Yugoslavia.
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Since the breakup of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFR Yugoslavia) in the early 1990s, the foreign policy of the newly established Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (renamed Serbia and Montenegro in 2003) was characterized primarily by a desire to secure its political and geopolitical position and the solidarity with ethnic Serbs in other former Yugoslav republics through a strong nationalist campaign. While the country was involved in Yugoslav Wars and therefore exposed to several rounds of devastating sanctions against Yugoslavia this involvement was often denied for political or ideological reasons. In the initial period Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FR Yugoslavia) unsuccessfully aspired to gain international recognition as the sole legal successor state to SFR Yugoslavia, the country which was one of the most prominent foreign policy subjects during the Cold War.[1][2][3]

Unwilling to accept the interpretation that it is a new state that shares succession with other former SFR Yugoslav republics, FR Yugoslavia rejected to reapply for membership in international organizations leading the country to international isolation and it sometimes being described as a pariah state all up until the overthrow of Slobodan Milošević in 2000.[3] International status of the country improved somewhat following the 1995 Dayton Peace Agreement which ended Bosnian War and 1995 Erdut Agreement which opened the space for mutual recognition and establishment of full diplomatic relations with Croatia in 1996.[4] This improvement was nevertheless not long lasting with the beginning of Kosovo War and 1999 NATO bombing of Yugoslavia.

Following the overthrow of Slobodan Milošević on 5 October 2000 and the victory of Democratic Opposition of Serbia led by new Prime Minister of Serbia Zoran Đinđić and the new President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Vojislav Koštunica the country has worked to stabilize and strengthen its bilateral relationships with neighboring countries and the world. The country has joined multiple international organizations such as the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the United Nations and is actively participating in International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank projects.

Following the 2006 Montenegrin independence referendum which led to the dissolution of the state union two constituents (Republic of Serbia and Republic of Montenegro) agreed on Serbian sole succession of rights and obligations of the FR Yugoslavia with foreign relations of Serbia directly continuing all memberships in international organizations, inheriting federal properties (for example embassies) and accessions to various treaties. Memorandum of Agreement reached on 30 November 2006 additionally ensures Serbian provision of consular services to the Montenegrin citizens on the territory of states in which Montenegro has no missions of its own.

  1. ^ Murphy, Sean D. (2002). United States Practice in International Law: 1999–2001. Vol. 1. Cambridge University Press. p. 130. ISBN 978-0-521-75070-7.
  2. ^ Tvrtko Jakovina (2011). Treća strana Hladnog rata. Fraktura. ISBN 978-953-266-203-0.
  3. ^ a b Mladenov, Mladen (2014). "An Orpheus Syndrome? Serbian Foreign Policy After the Dissolution of Yugoslavia". The Foreign Policies of Post-Yugoslav States. London: Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 147–172.
  4. ^ "Yugoslavia-Croatia ties". The New York Times. 10 September 1996. Retrieved 1 August 2022.