Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
The Balkans
Albania
Bulgaria
Greece
Romania
The former state of Yugoslavia: the scene of the worst violence of the post-Soviet era, this re-
gion—formed after World War II as a socialist republic—fell apart after years of ethnic tensions. In 1992,
independence was declared by:
Croatia
Slovenia
Macedonia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
In 2000, Yugoslavia became:
Serbia and Montenegro in 2006 (Montenegro declared its independence)
In 2008:
Kosovo also declared its independence from Serbia, and is recognized by some ninety nations.
Central Europe
Czechoslovakia
Democracy came to Czechoslovakia, which elected the writer and former political prisoner Vaclav
Havel as president in December 1990. In 1993, the country split into two states:
Czech Republic
Slovakia
Germany
The new Germany is made up of the former Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) and the
German Democratic Republic (East Germany). In 1999 the capital was moved to Berlin from Bonn.
Hungary
Poland
Countries Formed out of the Former USSR
Belarus
Georgia
Putting this former Soviet republic in Europe is a close call. Bordered on the south by Turkey and Iran,
Georgia could be considered geographically part of Asia, but in culture and history it is more European.
Because it was the birthplace of the Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin, some Europeans may be inclined to let
Asia claim the murderous Stalin as its native son.
Ukraine
Moldova
Russia
Straddling both Europe and Asia, Russia is the largest of the former Soviet Union's fifteen republics.
