Macedonia gained its independence peacefully
from Yugoslavia in 1991, but Greece's objection to the new
state's use of what it considered a Hellenic name and symbols
delayed international recognition, which occurred under the
provisional designation of "the Former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia." In 1995, Greece lifted a 20-month trade embargo and
the two countries agreed to normalize relations. The United
States began referring to Macedonia by its constitutional name,
Republic of Macedonia, in 2004 and negotiations continue between
Greece and Macedonia to resolve the name issue. Some ethnic
Albanians, angered by perceived political and economic
inequities, launched an insurgency in 2001 that eventually won
the support of the majority of Macedonia's Albanian population
and led to the internationally-brokered Framework Agreement,
which ended the fighting by establishing a set of new laws
enhancing the rights of minorities. The undetermined status of
neighboring Kosovo, implementation of the Framework Agreement,
and a weak economy continue to be challenges for Macedonia.
Location:
Southeastern Europe, north of Greece
Area:
25,333 sq km
Border countries:
Albania 151 km, Bulgaria 148 km, Greece 246
km, Serbia 221 km
Climate:
warm, dry summers and autumns; relatively
cold winters with heavy snowfall
Geography:
landlocked; major transportation corridor
from Western and Central Europe to Aegean Sea and Southern
Europe to Western Europe
Population:
2,050,554
Nationality:
Macedonian(s)
Ethnic groups:
Macedonian 64.2%, Albanian 25.2%, Turkish
3.9%, Roma 2.7%, Serb 1.8%, other 2.2%
Religions:
Macedonian Orthodox 64.7%, other Christian
0.37%, Muslim 33.3%, other and unspecified 1.63%
Languages:
Macedonian 66.5%, Albanian 25.1%, Turkish
3.5%, Roma 1.9%, Serbian 1.2%, other 1.8%
Government type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
Skopje
Time zone:
GMT/UTC +01:00
National holiday:
Ilinden Uprising Day, 2 August (1903); note -
also known as Saint Elijah's Day
Currency:
Macedonian denar (MKD)
Communications:
Telephones – main lines in use: 533,200
Transportation:
Airports: 17, Railways: 699 km, Roadways:
8,684 km