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Articles 1 - 9 of 9
Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences
Bosnia And Herzegovina, Country Profile
Bosnia And Herzegovina, Country Profile
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
After Marshal Tito's death in 1980 and the collapse of the former Soviet Union, the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY) divided into five different countries: Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) and the Republic of Macedonia. After having declared its independence from SFRY in March 1992, BiH fought in a war that lasted over three-and-a-half years. This war destroyed families, communities and infrastructure and left the country littered with landmines and unexploded ordnance. After the Dayton agreement was signed on Dec. 14, 1995, the war officially ended and the country was …
Moldova, Country Profile
Moldova, Country Profile
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
Moldova is split into two main regions, Bessarabia and Transnistria. Bessarabia is in the eastern part of historic Moldova and is mostly Romanian while Transnistria is the land on the eastern bank of the Nistru River and is mostly Slavic (Ukrainians and Russians). After the Russo-Turkish War in 1806-12, Bessarabia ceded to Russia. Finally on Aug. 27, 1991, Moldova declared its independence from the USSR and was recognized by the United States in December of that same year as they opened an embassy in its capital in 1992. A new constitution was adopted on July 28, 1994, which forever replaced …
Belarus, Country Profile
Belarus, Country Profile
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
Gomel, Minsk, the capital, and the most heavily mined area, Vitebsk. Many of the officials in Belarus are trying to educate the people and show them the proper way to handle a mine if encountered and more importantly, what not to do. Two non-governmental organizations, the Belarus Support Center for Associations and Foundations (SCAF), and the Belarus Campaign to Ban Land mines (BCBL), are working with the Belarussian government to help promote safety and build solid support centers for the victims of land mines. SCAF, established in 1996, strives to develop the culture and society of Belarus by supporting other …
Croatia, Country Profile
Croatia, Country Profile
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
Croatia ceded from Yugoslavia in 1991. Cessation prompted a crackdown by Belgrade and an uprising by the Serbian minority. During the war of independence millions of mines were planted and the main cities were bombed. Western Slovenia and the Krajina were under the control of Serb forces loyal to Belgrade until April 1995 when Croatian HVO forces retook Western Slovenia. Zagreb was shelled in retaliation. In August 1995 Croatian forces swept across the border of Bosnia and Herzegovina to pursue the fleeing Serbs, and to dislodge Serb forces near Croatian territory. Croatian officials came out of the Dayton Peace Accords …
Kosovo, Country Profile
Kosovo, Country Profile
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
Serbia and Montenegro are the only two remaining Yugoslavian republics. The federation began to dissolve in June 1991, when Croatia and Slovenia declared independence. The Republic of Serbia has two autonomous provinces, Kosovo and Vojvodina, which are administratively a part of Serbia. Most of the population in Kosovo is Albanian.
Chechnya, Country Profile
Chechnya, Country Profile
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
Chechnya is not recognized internationally as a sovereign state. It declared independence from Russia in September 1991, adopting the name Chechen Republic lchkeria. ln December 1994, the Russian Federation sent troops in the republic and used mines extensively. A peace agreement was signed in 1996, including the delay of the Chechen Republic lchkeria's official status until Jan. 1, 2001. Chechen leadership currently claims the independence of their republic but Russia maintains that Chechnya is part of the Russian Federation. Chechen law has been established but Russian law still applies. The humanitarian situation in Chechnya deteriorated steadily from the end of …
Georgia, Country Profile
Georgia, Country Profile
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
Following the April 9, 1991, independence from the former Soviet Union, Georgia was beset by ethnic and civil strife. The continuing argument over the political status of Abkhazia resulted in war. In September 1993, Georgian forces withdrew from the Abkhazia region. Although Georgia stabilized, South Ossetia and Abkhazia remain elusive. The conflict in South Ossetia has been dormant since spring 1994, but sporadic violence continues between Abkhaz forces and Georgian partisans in western Georgia. Of their estimated population of 5,000,000, Georgia still has about 250,000 internally displaced people as a result of these conflicts. After adopting a new constitution in …
Ukraine, Country Profile
Ukraine, Country Profile
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
Ukraine has been struggling for its independence from several countries that have tried to consume it and minimize its boundaries. The Bolshevik Revolution prompted the Russian Ukrainians to establish a new republic in 1917 while the Austrian Ukraine waited until a year later to establish their connection with the Russian Ukraine. Ukraine was excluded from much of the decision making during the closing of World War I and Poland was given the land they wished for, Galicia, in 1919. This single act sparked war once again. The war continued as the country itself was thrown into internal turmoil and change …
Slovenia, Country Profile
Slovenia, Country Profile
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
The Republic of Slovenia is a Central European country about the size of New Jersey, with a population of two million inhabitants. After World War I, Austria-Hungary disintegrated and Slovenia joined the new state, the Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes. The people of Slovenia voted for independence and sovereignty at a national referendum held on Dec. 23, 1990, and on June 26, 1991, the Republic of Slovenia proclaimed its independence.