[20060524]RS21568_塞尔维亚和黑山联盟：背景和待解散.pdf

Congressional Research Service The Library of CongressCRS Report for CongressReceived through the CRS WebOrder Code RS21568Updated May 24, 2006Serbia and Montenegro Union: Background and Pending Dissolutionname redactedSpecialist in International RelationsForeign Affairs, Defense, and Trade DivisionSummaryOn May 21, 2006, Montenegro held a long-awaited referendum on independence;55.5% of the electorate voted in favor of independence, slightly over the 55% thresholdestablished by the European Union (EU), and turnout exceeded 86%. Serbia andMontenegro were the last remnants of the former Yugoslavia to exist in a common state.They formed a new, highly decentralized state union under an agreement brokered bythe EU in 2002-2003, which allowed for either republic to hold a referendum after threeyears. Serbias political leaders supported continuation of the union but recognized thereferendum outcome. The impending dissolution of the Serbia and Montenegro unioncomes at the same time as the international community is conducting talks on the futurestatus of Kosovo, a disputed province in Serbia. This report may be updated as eventswarrant. For additional information, see CRS Report RL30371,