Serbia: Current Issues and U.S. Policy

Publication Date: May 2008

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Author(s):

Research Area: Government

Type:

Abstract:

Serbia faces an important crossroads in its development. It is seeking to integrate into Euro-Atlantic institutions, but its progress has slowed due to a failure to arrest remaining indicted war criminals. The international community may grant Serbia's Kosovo province a form of supervised independence this year. Serbian leaders are likely to strongly reject such an outcome, possibly leading to severe damage to the country's relations with the United States and other Western countries. Serbia's ability to respond to these challenges may be hampered by the difficulties faced by democratic parties in forming a new government after January 2007 parliamentary elections. This report provides information on Serbia's political and economic situation, its relations with NATO and the European Union, as well as U.S. policy toward Serbia. It will be updated as needed.