Serbia/Montenegro at a Glance

• Population: approx. 10.4 million


• Capital city: Belgrade, approx. 2 million inhabitants


• Language: Serbian


• Religions: 85% serbisch-orthodox, 5% römisch-katholisch, 3% muslimisch, 1% evangelisch


• Form of government: Republic / parliamentary Democracy

Economy

Development cooperation was begun with Serbia and Montenegro after the democratic upheaval in 2000. With an emergency programme amounting to EUR 26 million an important contribution was made to national stability. Since then, Serbia and Montenegro has received some of the largest amounts of German assistance. In close consultation with the government of Serbia and Montenegro, the following areas have been selected as the main priorities of bilateral development cooperation: Infrastructure measures in energy and water supply, wastewater treatment and district heating; Financial and consulting services to strengthen small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs); Assistance in the transition to a market economy (policy advice).

Culture and Science

The political change ushered in on 5 October 2000 has helped the country to renew its cultural life after the nationalistic and chauvinistic cultural policy of the Milosevic regime, and this has also had a positive impact on cultural cooperation with Germany. The Goethe Institute in Belgrade offers an extensive and highly attractive programme, with activities such as exhibitions, lectures, concerts and theatre performances that arouse keen interest. German artists and performers are once again much in demand at Belgrade theatre, music or film festivals. Academic and educational contacts are another important aspect of our cooperation. The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) now has three academic teachers working in Serbia and there is keen interest in our scholarship and exchange programmes. One of the highlights of cultural cooperation to date were the German Culture Weeks in 2002, held from September to November in Belgrade, and featuring distinguished German literary figures as well as top artists and performers from Germany's theatre, dance, music and film scene.

Links

www.konsulate.de/serbia (Official representation of Serbia/Montenegro in Germany)
www.belgrad.diplo.de (German Embassy in Serbia/Montenegro)
www.ahkbelgrad.co.yu (Delegate of German Industry and Commerce)
www.goethe.de/belgrad (Goethe-Institute in Belgrade)