LocationSoutheast Europe.
Area77,474 sq km (35,246 sq miles).
Population8.3 million (2007 estimate).
Population Density108 per sq km.
CapitalBelgrade.
Population: 1.6 million (2002 census).
GovernmentRepublic since 2006.
LanguageSerbian, which uses both Cyrillic and Latin script, Hungarian in the north and some Albanian.
ReligionMajority Eastern Orthodox Serbs, with a Muslim ethnic Albanian minority, a Muslim ethnic Slavic minority in the Raska region of
the southwest, a Roman Catholic ethnic Serbian and Croatian minority, a Protestant ethnic Hungarian minority (in the province of Vojvodina) and a small Jewish community.
TimeGMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October).
Electricity220 volts AC, 50Hz.
Head of GovernmentPrime Minister
Vojislav Kostunica since 2004.
Head of StatePresident
Boris Tadic since 2004.
Recent HistorySerbia and Montenegro formally declared independence from each other following a May 2006 referendum on independence in Montenegro. Serbia maintains membership of international institutions, including the UN, and is keen to take up EU membership, which looks increasingly likely.
January 2008 elections resulted in an inconclusive victory for nationalists who do not wish to see Kosovo become fully independent. The second round of voting re-elected pro-Western Boris Tadic as President.
Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in February 2008; the controversial move was not accepted by all international bodies.
In March 2008, Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica said his coalition had collapsed and is calling for elections. The move follows his failure to get his cabinet to reject closer ties with the European Union in the wake of Kosovo’s declaration of independence. Prime Minister Kostunica, a nationalist, described the decision by EU states to recognize Kosovo as illegal. President Boris Tadic has said he will call elections, but did not set a date for the poll.
TelephoneCountry code: 381.
Mobile TelephoneRoaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone companies. Coverage is good in the north and in Belgrade, but patchy in the south.
InternetInternet cafes can be found in the main urban centers.
MediaThe Serbian media is reasonably free and offers differing perspectives that vary from sensationalist to serious along with a spectrum of political stances that range from liberal to nationalist.
PostPostal services are reasonably good.
Press• The main daily newspapers are
Vecernje Novosti,
Glas Javnosti and
Kurir.
• Blic is a popular daily with some English-language content.
• Politika is the oldest daily.
Radio• RTS Radio is state-run.
• B92 is a private station.
• The
Association of Independents Electronic Media is a network of local broadcasting stations.
Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2009-December 2010 period.
20091-2 Jan New Year's Day.
7 Jan Orthodox Christmas Day.
27 Jan* St Sava's Day.
15 Feb Constitution Day.
17 Apr Orthodox Good Friday.
20 Apr Orthodox Easter Monday.
1-2 May Labor Days.
9 May* Victory Day.
28 Jun* St Vitus' Day.
20101-2 Jan New Year's Day.
7 Jan Orthodox Christmas Day.
27 Jan* St Sava's Day.
15 Feb Constitution Day.
2 Apr Orthodox Good Friday.
5 Apr Orthodox Easter Monday.
1-2 May Labor Days.
9 May* Victory Day.
28 Jun* St Vitus' Day.
NoteOrthodox Christian holidays may also be celebrated in most parts.
* Working holidays.
Contact Information:National Tourism Organization of Serbia (NTOS)Decanska 8A/V, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Tel: (11) 334 2521
or 323 2586.
Website:
www.serbia-tourism.org Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in the UK28 Belgrave Square, London SW1X 8QB, UK
Tel: (020) 7235 9049.
Website:
www.serbianembassy.org.ukOpening hours: Mon-Fri 1000-1300 (visa section); 1400-1600 (visa telephone enquiries).
Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in the USA2134 Kalorama Road, NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA
Tel: (202) 332 0333
or 5974 (consular section).
Website:
www.serbiaembusa.org
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