The state constitution
safeguards the rights of the three major ethnic groups—Bosniaks,
Serbs, and Croats—and by extension the three largest religious
communities—Muslim, Eastern Orthodox, and Roman Catholic.
It provides for proportional representation for each group in
the government and in the military. As a result of the government
structure, parliamentary seats and most government positions
are apportioned specifically to members of the three constituent
peoples. These stipulations often result in constitutional discrimination
against those who are not members of these three groups and
sympathizers of certain faiths who do not fit neatly into them.
Serbia and Montenegro
Montenegro held an independence referendum in May 2006 in
which 55.5 percent of voters chose separation from Serbia. The
people of Montenegro followed soon afterward with a declaration
of independence, and Serbia declared its sovereignty two days
later. The process of fully separating these two portions of
the former Yugoslavia will be lengthy and involve careful negotiations.
|
