U.S. ONLINE TRAINING FOR OSCE, INCLUDING REACT Module 5. Southeastern Europe This module introduces you to southeastern Europe and the OSCE’s work in: • Croatia (The OSCE Office in Zagreb was closed in 2012) • Macedonia • Bosnia-Herzegovina • Serbia • Kosovo • Montenegro • Albania . 1 Table of Contents Overview. 3 Geography. 4 People. 6 Former Yugoslavia. 10 World War I. 11 World War II. 12 Federal People’s Republic of Yugoslavia. 14 Post-Tito. 15 Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. 17 Croatia. 18 Key information. 19 Historical background. 20 During Tito. 21 After Tito. 22 War of independence. 23 Domestic politics. 25 Macedonia. 35 Key information. 36 Historical background. 38 19th and early 20th centuries. 39 During Tito. 41 Independence. 43 Domestic politics. 44 Prospects and challenges. 67 Bosnia-Herzegovina (BiH). 72 Key information. 73 Historical background. 75 During the Tito era. 76 The Bosnian war: 1992-1995. 79 Disunity of international community. 81 The Dayton Peace Accords, 1995. 84 Politics since Dayton. 87 Challenges and pressures. 95 Serbia. 99 Key information. 100 Introduction. 101 Contemporary Serbia. 102 Miloševi?'s rise. 104 Domestic resistance and state oppression. 106 Consequences of Kosovo. 109 The short-lived Kosovo Verification Mission. 110 MODULE 5. Southeastern Europe 2 Regime repression intensifies. 112 Struggle for Serbia’s political direction. 115 Nikolic wins 2012 presidential election. 122 Serbia's identity and its vision for the future. 124 Montenegro. 131 Key information. 132 Contemporary Montenegro. 133 Politics in Montenegro. 134 Other issues. 140 Kosovo. 142 Key information. 143 Historical background of Kosovo. 144 Organized non-violence. 145 After Dayton. 147 UNMIK established. 151 Kosovo achieves independence. 157 Kosovo realities. 167 Albania. 173 Key information. 174 Historical background of Albania. 176 Domestic politics. 182 Prospects. 190 Albanian Culture. 191 Challenges Facing Southeastern Europe. 194 Minorities across the Balkans. 195 Conflicting interpretations of the past. 197 Regional issues. 199 MODULE 5. Southeastern Europe 3 CHAPTER 1 Overview Basic information follows on the region's: • Geography • People MODULE 5. Southeastern Europe 3 CHAPTER 1 Overview Geography Mountains and Rivers Southeastern Europe is marked by topographical contrasts defined by its mountain ranges and river valleys. Historically, the movement of peoples and armies has been shaped by the realities of the landscape. These factors have also had an impact on the development of strong central authorities and their ability to retain control over territory. Mountains and rivers have also served as the boundary markers between states and empires. Map of southeastern Europe (c) USIP Key topography There are some key differences between the regions of southeastern Europe. • Across Montenegro, Northern Albania, Northwestern Macedonia and Western Bosnia, the terrain is mountainous, with many peaks over 2000 meters. • On the western side, the mountains drop to the sea in some places; in others, they yield to a coastal plain. • Inland, the landscape softens, most markedly in the north. The city of Zagreb is low-lying on the river Sava, which flows through Sisak and Brcko in eastern Bosnia before joining the Danube in Belgrade. • The Danube flows south and east through rich farmland, past the Croatian town of Vukovar before reaching Novi Sad, the capital of Vojvodina, and then Belgrade. MODULE 5. Southeastern Europe 4 CHAPTER 1 Overview • Southwards from Belgrade, the main road and rail links follow the south Morava River to Vranje and then go on to Skopje. • From Macedonia's capital, the Vardar river valley provides a route to the rich lowlands around Thessaloniki in Greece. MODULE 5. Southeastern Europe 5 CHAPTER 1 Overview People Slavs came to the area in the 6th or 7th.