Background: International recognition of The Former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia's (FYROM) independence from Yugoslavia in 1991 was delayed by Greece's objection
to the new state's use of what it considered a Hellenic name and symbols. Greece finally
lifted its trade blockade in 1995, and the two countries agreed to normalize relations.
FYROM's large Albanian minority and the de facto independence of neighboring Kosovo
continue to be sources of ethnic tension.
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- Map:
- Location:
- • Southeastern Europe, north of Greece
- Area—comparative:
- • slightly larger than Vermont
- Land boundaries:
- • total: 748 km
• border countries: Albania 151 km, Bulgaria 148 km, Greece 228 km, Serbia and
Montenegro 221 km (all with Serbia)
- Coastline:
- • 0 km (landlocked)
- Maritime claims:
- • none (landlocked)
- Geographical Position
- Climate:
- • hot, dry summers and autumns and relatively cold winters with heavy snowfall
- Terrain:
- • mountainous territory covered with deep basins and valleys; there are three large
lakes, each divided by a frontier line; country bisected by the Vardar River
- Environment—current issues:
- • air pollution from metallurgical plants
- Environment—international agreements:
- • party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes,
Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
• signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
- Ministry of Environment
- Geography—note:
- • landlocked; major transportation corridor from Western and Central Europe to
Aegean Sea and Southern Europe to Western Europe
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- Population:
- • 2,041,467 (July 2000 est.)
- Net migration rate:
- • -5.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
- Infant mortality rate:
- • 13.35 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)
- Life expectancy at birth:
- • total population: 73.79 years
• male: 71.58 years
• female: 76.19 years (2000 est.)
- Total fertility rate:
- • 1.82 children born/woman (2000 est.)
- Nationality:
- • noun: Macedonian(s)
• adjective: Macedonian
- Ethnic groups:
- • Macedonian 66.6%, Albanian 22.7%, Turkish 4%, Roma 2.2%, Serb 2.1%, other 2.4%
(1994)
- Religions:
- • Eastern Orthodox 67%, Muslim 30%, other 3%
- Languages
- • Macedonian 70%, Albanian 21%, Turkish 3%, Serbo-Croatian 3%, other 3%
- Literacy:
- • NA
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- Country name:
- • conventional long form: The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
• conventional short form: none
• local long form: Republika Makedonija
• local short form: Makedonija
• abbreviation: F.Y.R.O.M.
- Data code:
- • MK
- Government
type:
- • emerging democracy
- National capital:
- • Skopje
- Administrative divisions:
- • 123 municipalities (opstini, singular - opstina);
Aracinovo, Bac, Belcista, Berovo, Bistrica, Bitola, Blatec, Bogdanci, Bogomila, Bogovinje,
Bosilovo, Brvenica, Cair (Skopje), Capari, Caska, Cegrane, Centar (Skopje), Centar Zupa,
Cesinovo, Cucer-Sandevo, Debar, Delcevo, Delogozdi, Demir Hisar, Demir Kapija, Dobrusevo,
Dolna Banjica, Dolneni, Dorce Petrov (Skopje), Drugovo, Dzepciste, Gazi Baba (Skopje),
Gevgelija, Gostivar, Gradsko, Ilinden, Izvor, Jegunovce, Kamenjane, Karbinci, Karpos
(Skopje), Kavadarci, Kicevo, Kisela Voda (Skopje), Klecevce, Kocani, Konce, Kondovo,
Konopiste, Kosel, Kratovo, Kriva Palanka, Krivogastani, Krusevo, Kuklis, Kukurecani,
Kumanovo, Labunista, Lipkovo, Lozovo, Lukovo, Makedonska Kamenica, Makedonski Brod,
Mavrovi Anovi, Meseista, Miravci, Mogila, Murtino, Negotino, Negotino-Poloska, Novaci,
Novo Selo, Oblesevo, Ohrid, Orasac, Orizari, Oslomej, Pehcevo, Petrovec, Plasnia, Podares,
Prilep, Probistip, Radovis, Rankovce, Resen, Rosoman, Rostusa, Samokov, Saraj, Sipkovica,
Sopiste, Sopotnika, Srbinovo, Star Dojran, Staravina, Staro Nagoricane, Stip, Struga,
Strumica, Studenicani, Suto Orizari (Skopje), Sveti Nikole, Tearce, Tetovo, Topolcani,
Valandovo, Vasilevo, Velesta, Veles, Vevcani, Vinica, Vitoliste, Vranestica, Vrapciste,
Vratnica, Vrutok, Zajas, Zelenikovo, Zileno, Zitose, Zletovo, Zrnovci
note: the seven municipalities followed by Skopje in parentheses collectively
constitute "greater Skopje"
- Independence:
- • 17 September 1991 (from Yugoslavia)
- National holiday:
- • 8 September
- Constitution
- • adopted 17 November 1991, effective 20 November 1991
- Legal system
- • based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts
- Suffrage:
- • 18 years of age; universal
- Executive branch:
- • chief of state: President Boris TRAJKOVSKI (since 15 December 1999)
- • head of government: Prime Minister Ljubco GEORGIEVSKI (since 30 November 1998)
• cabinet:
Council of Ministers elected by the majority vote of all the deputies in the Assembly;
note - current cabinet formed by the government coalition parties VMRO-DPMNE, DA, and DPA
• elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election
last held 14 November 1999 (next to be held NA October 2004); prime minister appointed by
the president
• election results: Boris TRAJKOVSKI elected president on second-round ballot;
percent of vote - Boris TRAJKOVSKI 52.4%, Tito PETKOVSKI 46.2%
- Legislative branch:
- •unicameral Assembly or Sobranje (120 seats - 85 members are elected by popular
vote; 35 members come from lists of candidates submitted by parties based on the
percentage that parties gain from the overall vote; all serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 18 October and 1 November 1998 (next to be held NA 2002)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - VMRO-DPMNE 49,
SDSM 27, PDP 14, DA 13, DPA 11, LDP 4, Socialist Party 1, Roma Party 1
• elections
- Judicial branch:
- • Constitutional Court, judges are elected by the Judicial Council; Judicial Court
of the Republic, judges are elected by the Judicial Council
- Political parties and leaders:
- • Democratic
Alternative or DA [Vasil TUPURKOVSKI, president]; Democratic Party for Albanians or DPA
[Arben XHAFERI, president]; Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization - Democratic
Party for Macedonian National Unity or VMRO-DPMNE [Ljubcho GEORGIEVSKI, president];
Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization-True Macedonian Reform Option or VMRO-VMRO
[Boris STOJMANOV]; Liberal Democratic Party or LDP [Risto GUSTERVO]; Party for Democratic
Prosperity or PDP [Imeri IMERI, president]; Social-Democratic Alliance of Macedonia or
SDSM (former Communist Party) [Branko CRVENKOVSKI, president]; Socialist Party of
Macedonia or SP [Ljubisav IVANOV, president]; Union of Romanies of Macedonia or SRM
[leader NA]
- Political Pressure groups and leaders:
- • Movement for All Macedonian Action or MAAK; Democratic Party of Serbs; Democratic
Party of Turks; Party for Democratic Action (Slavic Muslim); Party for the Complete
Emancipation of Romas or PCER [Faik ABDI]; Rainbow Party - the human rights movement of the Macedonians in
Republic of Greece; VMRO-VMRO - True Macedonian Reform Option
- Diplomatic representation in the US:
- chief of mission: Ambassador Ljubica Z. ACEVSKA
chancery: 3050 K Street, NW, Suite 210, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 337 3063
consulate(s) general: New York
- Diplomatic representation from
the US:
- •
chief of mission: Ambassador M. MICHAEL EINIK (6 September 1999 )
embassy: Bul. Ilindenska bb, 1000 Skopje
mailing address: American Embassy Skopje, Department of State, Washington, DC
20521-7120 (pouch)
telephone:+389 02 116-180
FAX: +389 02 117-103
e-mail: irc@usembassy.mpt.com.mk
Foreign
Policy Information
Embassy of the
Republic of Macedonia in Canada
Macedonian
Government Resources
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- Economy—overview:
- • At independence in November 1991, Macedonia was the
least developed of the Yugoslav republics, producing a mere 5% of the total federal output
of goods and services. The collapse of Yugoslavia ended transfer payments from the center
and eliminated advantages from inclusion in a de facto free trade area. An absence of
infrastructure, UN sanctions on its largest market Yugoslavia, and a Greek economic
embargo hindered economic growth until 1996. GDP has subsequently increased each year,
rising by 5% in 2000. Successful privatization in 2000 boosted the country's reserves to
over $700 million. Also, the leadership demonstrated a continuing commitment to economic
reform, free trade, and regional integration. Inflation jumped to 11% in 2000, largely due
to higher oil prices.
- GDP:
- • purchasing power parity: $9 billion (2000 est.)
• real growth rate: 5% (2000 est.)
• per capita: purchasing power parity—$4,400 (2000 est.)
• composition by sector: agriculture: agriculture: 12% industry:
25% services: 63% (2000 est.)
- Inflation rate—consumer price index:
- • 11% (2000 est.)
- Labor force:
- • total: 1 million (1999 est.)
• by occupation: manufacturing and mining 40% (1992)
- Unemployment rate:
- • 32% (2000 est.)
- Budget:
- • revenues: $1.06 billion
• expenditures: $1 billion, including capital expenditures of $107 million
(1996 est.)
- Exports:
- • total value: $1.4 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
• commodities: food, beverage, tobacco 17.0%, machinery and transport
equipment 13.3%, other manufactured goods 58%
• partners: Bulgaria, other former Yugoslav republics, Germany, Italy
- Imports:
- • total value: $2 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
• commodities: machinery and equipment 19%, chemicals 14%, fuels 12%
• partners: Germany 22%, Yugoslavia 22%, US 12%,
Greece 7%, Italy 6% (2000)
- Debt—external:
- • $1.4 billion (2000)
- Economic aid:
- • recipient: $100 million from the EU (2000)
- Currency:
- • 1 Macedonian denar (MKD) = 100 deni
- Exchange rates:
- • denar per US$1—64.757 (January 2001), 59.773 (January 2000), 56.902 (1999),
54.462 (1998), 50.004 (1997), 39.981 (1996), 37.882 (1995)
Economic
Map
Economic Chamber of Macedonia
THE NATIONAL INFORMATION CENTER
FOR COMMERCIAL LAW (NICCL)
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- Military branches:
- • Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, Police Force
- Military manpower—military age:
- • 19 years of age
- Military manpower—availability:
- • males age 15-49: 548,183 (2001 est.)
- Military expenditures—dollar figure:
- • $76.3
million (FY00/01)
- Military expenditures—percent of GDP:
- • 2.17% (FY00/01)
Ministry of Defence
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- Disputes—international:
- • Dispute
with Greece over name
• In September 1995, Skopje and Athens signed an interim accord resolving their
dispute over symbols and certain constitutional provisions; Athens also lifted its
economic embargo on The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
• 20 bilateral agreements remain unsigned in a dispute over Bulgarian nonrecognition
of Macedonian as a language distinct from Bulgarian
• The border commission formed by The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and
Serbia and Montenegro in April 1996 to resolve differences in delineation of their mutual
border has made no progress so far
• Albanians in Macedonia claim discrimination in education, access to public-sector
jobs and representation in government; Party for Democratic Action (DPA) calls for a
rewrite of the constitution to declare ethnic Albanians a national group and allow for
regional autonomy
- Illicit drugs:
- • transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and hashish; minor transit point
for South American cocaine
MACEDONIA