Montenegro

Coordinates: 42°30′N 19°18′E / 42.500°N 19.300°E / 42.500; 19.300

Montenegro (ⁱ/ˌmɒntᵻˈneɪɡroʊ/ MON-tən-AYG-roh or /ˌmɒntᵻˈniːɡroʊ/ MON-tən-EEG-roh or /ˌmɒntᵻˈnɛɡroʊ/ MON-tən-EG-roh; Montenegrin: Crna Gora / Црна Гора [t͡sr̩̂ːnaː ɡɔ̌ra], meaning "Black Mountain") is a sovereign state in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the south-east. Its capital and largest city is Podgorica, while Cetinje is designated as the Prijestonica, meaning the former Royal Capital City.

In the 9th century, there were three principalities on the territory of Montenegro: Duklja, roughly corresponding to the southern half, Travunia, the west, and Rascia, the north. In 1042, archon Stefan Vojislav led a revolt that resulted in the independence of Duklja and the establishment of the Vojislavljević dynasty. Duklja reached its zenith under Vojislav's son, Mihailo (1046–81), and his grandson Bodin (1081–1101). By the 13th century, Zeta had replaced Duklja when referring to the realm. In the late 14th century, southern Montenegro (Zeta) came under the rule of the Balšić noble family, then the Crnojević noble family, and by the 15th century, Zeta was more often referred to as Crna Gora (Venetian: monte negro). Large portions fell under the control of the Ottoman Empire from 1496 to 1878. Parts were controlled by Venice. From 1515 until 1851 the prince-bishops (vladikas) of Cetinje were the rulers. The House of Petrović-Njegoš ruled until 1918. From 1918, it was a part of Yugoslavia. On the basis of an independence referendum held on 21 May 2006, Montenegro declared independence on 3 June of that year.

List of diplomatic missions of the United States

This is a list of diplomatic missions of the United States of America.

History

Morocco, in December 1777, became the first nation to seek diplomatic relations with the United States and together they maintain the United States' longest unbroken treaty.

Benjamin Franklin established the first overseas mission of the United States in Paris in 1779. On April 19, 1782, John Adams was received by the States-General and the Dutch Republic became the third country, after Morocco and France, to recognize the United States as an independent government. Adams then became the first U.S. ambassador to the Netherlands and the house that he had purchased at Fluwelen Burgwal 18 in The Hague, became the first American embassy anywhere in the world.

In the period following the American Revolution, George Washington sent a number of close advisers to the courts of European potentates in order to garner recognition of U.S. independence with mixed results, including Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Francis Dana, and John Jay. Much of the first fifty years of the Department of State concerned negotiating with imperial European powers over the territorial integrity of the borders of the United States as known today.

Bay of Kotor

The Bay of Kotor (Montenegrin and Serbian: Boka kotorska/Бока которска, pronounced [bɔ̂ka kɔ̂tɔrskaː]), known simply as Boka ("the Bay"), is a winding bay of the Adriatic Sea in southwesternmost Montenegro.

The bay has been inhabited since antiquity. Its well-preserved medieval towns of Kotor, Risan, Tivat, Perast, Prčanj and Herceg Novi, along with their natural surroundings, are major tourist attractions. Natural and Culturo-Historical Region of Kotor has been a World Heritage Site since 1979.

Its numerous Orthodox and Catholic churches and monasteries make it a major pilgrimage site.

Economy

A small naval port is under development as a yacht marina, Porto Montenegro.

Geography

The bay is about 28 km long with a shoreline extending 107.3 km. It is surrounded by two massifs of the Dinaric Alps: the Orjen mountains to the west, and the Lovćen mountains to the east. The narrowest section of the bay, the 2300 m long Verige Strait, is only 340 m wide at its narrowest point. The bay is a ria of the vanished Bokelj River that used to run from the high mountain plateaus of Mount Orjen.

Under Secretary

Under Secretary may refer to:

United Kingdom

United States

In the United States, the rank of Under Secretary denotes a high level civilian official within the United States federal government. An official of sub-Cabinet rank, Under Secretaries are appointed by the President of the United States with the consent of the United States Senate and are assigned to assist a specific Cabinet Secretary. Under Secretaries often manage extensive portfolios within a Cabinet Department.

Gumball 3000

The Gumball 3000 is an annual British 3,000-mile (4,800 km) international celebrity motor rally which takes place on public roads. It was started in 1999 by Maximillion Cooper, born from his vision to combine cars, music, fashion and entertainment.

The Gumball 3000 has received criticism. Two pensioners died in an accident in Macedonia in 2007 after their car was hit by a Gumball rally driver. Participants have been stopped for speeding, have had their driving licences taken by police, and had their cars confiscated.

History

1999

The event commenced with a party at the Bluebird club in London, attended by celebrities such as Kate Moss, Guy Ritchie and Dannii Minogue before Sir Terence Conran dropped the checkered flag the following day. The inaugural rally featured 50 of Maximillion Cooper’s friends travelling from London to Rimini, Italy and back. The route passed through Paris, stopping at Chateau d’Esclimont, and continued to the Le Mans race circuit. The group then travelled to the Ferrari Factory in Maranello, Ambras Castle in Austria, and the Hockenheim Grand Prix Circuit in Germany before their return to London to cross the finish line on Park Lane. Cars that took place in this first rally included a British Police car borrowed from the British television show The Bill, driven by Alexandra Aitken, a Lotus Esprit and a Lamborghini Diablo.