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The '''Republic of Macedonia''', known |
The '''The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia''' (FYROM), also known within its borders and its constitution as '''"The Republic of Macedonia"''' (a disputed denomination), is an independent state on the [[Balkan peninsula]] in southeastern [[Europe]], with an area of 25,713 sq km and a population of just over two million. Its capital and principal city is [[Skopje]] (population 600,000). |
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The state's name remains a source of local and international controversy. Internationally, the republic is known in political and cultural organisations, notably the [[United Nations]], the [[European Union]], the [[European Broadcasting Union]], the [[International Olympic Committee]] among others, exclusively as FYROM. This is due to a dispute between [[Greece]] and the republic over who possessed the superior right to use the historic name '''Macedonia''' or '''[[Macedon]]''', given that Greece already had a province of that name. The FYROM format |
The state's name remains a source of local and international controversy. Internationally, the republic is known in political and cultural organisations, notably the [[United Nations]], the [[European Union]], the [[European Broadcasting Union]], the [[International Olympic Committee]] among others, exclusively as FYROM. This is due to a dispute between [[Greece]] and the republic over who possessed the superior right to use the historic name '''Macedonia''' or '''[[Macedon]]''', given that Greece already had a province of that name. The FYROM format is a temporary compromise which allows recognition of FYROM's independence and statehood while avoiding offending Greece. Most diplomats are accredited to the republic using the FYROM designation. The usage of each name remains controversial to supporters of the other. A permanent agreement on how FYROM should be referred to internationally has not yet been reached. |
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<table border=1 cellpadding=2 cellspacing=0 align=right style="margin-left:0.5em;" width="300px"> |
<table border=1 cellpadding=2 cellspacing=0 align=right style="margin-left:0.5em;" width="300px"> |
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<tr><td>[[Top-level domain|Internet TLD]] <td>.MK |
<tr><td>[[Top-level domain|Internet TLD]] <td>.MK |
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<tr><td>[[List of country calling codes|Calling Code]]<td>389 |
<tr><td>[[List of country calling codes|Calling Code]]<td>389 |
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</table> |
</table> |
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After 45 years as a republic of the [[Yugoslavia|Yugoslav]] federation, Macedonia was proclaimed independent on [[September 17]], [[1991]]. The Greek government, however, raised objections concerning: |
After 45 years as a republic of the [[Yugoslavia|Yugoslav]] federation, Macedonia was proclaimed independent on [[September 17]], [[1991]]. The Greek government, however, raised objections concerning: |
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* The name: Macedonia was claimed by [[Greece]] to be a [[Greek language|Greek]] name, already in use for the Greek province of Macedonia. |
* The name: Macedonia was claimed by [[Greece]] to be a [[Greek language|Greek]] name, and was already in use for the Greek province of Macedonia. |
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* The flag "[[Vergina Sun]]": the sixteen-ray star that was to appear on the flag was a symbol of the ancient state of [[Macedon]], to which Greece claimed to be the sole heir. (For more on this, see [[Vergina]].) |
* The flag "[[Vergina Sun]]": the sixteen-ray star that was to appear on the flag was a symbol of the ancient state of [[Macedon]], to which Greece claimed to be the sole heir. (For more on this, see [[Vergina]].) |
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* A reference in the constitution about reuniting the three parts of the historical province of Macedonia which today belong to the FYROM, Greece, and [[Bulgaria]]. |
* A reference in the constitution about reuniting the three parts of the historical province of Macedonia which today belong to the FYROM, Greece, and [[Bulgaria]]. |
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A brief civil war in March [[2001]] involving Albanian rebels in the west of the country ended with the intervention of a small [[North Atlantic Treaty Organization|NATO]] ceasefire monitoring force and government undertakings to concede greater rights to the Albanian minority. |
A brief civil war in March [[2001]] involving Albanian rebels in the west of the country ended with the intervention of a small [[North Atlantic Treaty Organization|NATO]] ceasefire monitoring force and government undertakings to concede greater rights to the Albanian minority. |
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<div style="float: right">[[Image:Mk-map.jpg|Map of the Republic of Macedonia (FYROM)]]</div> |
<div style="float: right">[[Image:Mk-map.jpg|Map of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM)]]</div> |
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<i>From the [[CIA World Factbook]] 2000 / 2001. Some Wikification.</i> |
<i>From the [[CIA World Factbook]] 2000 / 2001. Some Wikification.</i> |
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* [[History of the Republic of Macedonia]] |
* [[History of the Republic of Macedonia|History of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia]] |
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* [[Geography of the Republic of Macedonia]] |
* [[Geography of the Republic of Macedonia|Geography of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia]] |
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* [[Demographics of the Republic of Macedonia]] |
* [[Demographics of the Republic of Macedonia|Demographics of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia]] |
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* [[Politics of the Republic of Macedonia]] |
* [[Politics of the Republic of Macedonia|Politics of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia]] |
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* [[Economy of the Republic of Macedonia]] |
* [[Economy of the Republic of Macedonia|Economy of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia]] |
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* [[Communications in the Republic of Macedonia]] |
* [[Communications in the Republic of Macedonia|Communications in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia]] |
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* [[Transportation in the Republic of Macedonia]] |
* [[Transportation in the Republic of Macedonia|Transportation in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia]] |
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* [[Military of the Republic of Macedonia]] |
* [[Military of the Republic of Macedonia|Military of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia]] |
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* [[Foreign relations of the Republic of Macedonia]] |
* [[Foreign relations of the Republic of Macedonia|Foreign relations of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia]] |
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== External links == |
== External links == |
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*[http://www.gov.mk Government website] |
*[http://www.gov.mk Government website] |
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*[http://www.eurominority.org/gb-minorites-etats-det.asp?etatdominant=Mac%E9doine Organization for the European Minorities' reports on |
*[http://www.eurominority.org/gb-minorites-etats-det.asp?etatdominant=Mac%E9doine Organization for the European Minorities' reports on FYROM] |
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<center>[[Countries of the world]] | [[Europe]] | [[Council of Europe]]</center> |
<center>[[Countries of the world]] | [[Europe]] | [[Council of Europe]]</center> |
Revision as of 17:23, 13 November 2003
The The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), also known within its borders and its constitution as "The Republic of Macedonia" (a disputed denomination), is an independent state on the Balkan peninsula in southeastern Europe, with an area of 25,713 sq km and a population of just over two million. Its capital and principal city is Skopje (population 600,000).
The state's name remains a source of local and international controversy. Internationally, the republic is known in political and cultural organisations, notably the United Nations, the European Union, the European Broadcasting Union, the International Olympic Committee among others, exclusively as FYROM. This is due to a dispute between Greece and the republic over who possessed the superior right to use the historic name Macedonia or Macedon, given that Greece already had a province of that name. The FYROM format is a temporary compromise which allows recognition of FYROM's independence and statehood while avoiding offending Greece. Most diplomats are accredited to the republic using the FYROM designation. The usage of each name remains controversial to supporters of the other. A permanent agreement on how FYROM should be referred to internationally has not yet been reached.
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National motto: .. | |||||
Official language | Macedonian | ||||
Capital | Skopje | ||||
President | Boris Trajkovski | ||||
Prime Minister | Branko Crvenkovski | ||||
Area - Total - % water | Ranked 145th 25'333 km² 1.9% | ||||
Population
- Density | Ranked 140th
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Independence | 8 September 1991 | ||||
Currency | Macedonian denar (MKD) | ||||
Time zone | UTC +1 (DST, yes) | ||||
National anthem | Today Over Macedonia | ||||
Internet TLD | .MK | ||||
Calling Code | 389 |
Some 1.4 million of the republic's inhabitants speak Macedonian, a south Slavic language and related to Old Slavonic. Prior to the Kosovo war of 1999, Albanian and Turkish were each spoken by about 250,000. There are an estimated 120,000 Romany speakers.
The republic contains roughly 38% of the area and nearly 44% of the population of the geographical region known as Macedonia, the remainder of which is divided between neighbouring Greece (with about half of the total) and Bulgaria (with under a tenth).
After 45 years as a republic of the Yugoslav federation, Macedonia was proclaimed independent on September 17, 1991. The Greek government, however, raised objections concerning:
- The name: Macedonia was claimed by Greece to be a Greek name, and was already in use for the Greek province of Macedonia.
- The flag "Vergina Sun": the sixteen-ray star that was to appear on the flag was a symbol of the ancient state of Macedon, to which Greece claimed to be the sole heir. (For more on this, see Vergina.)
- A reference in the constitution about reuniting the three parts of the historical province of Macedonia which today belong to the FYROM, Greece, and Bulgaria.
As a result the United Nations recognised the state in 1993 under the temporary reference of "The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" (FYROM). The country's flag now represents an eight-ray sun and not the former star; and the reference in its constitution was changed so as not to reflect any territorial claims.
Macedonia remained at peace through the violent nationality conflicts which convulsed the former Yugoslavia's western republics of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia in 1991-1995, but the influx of an estimated 360,000 ethnic Albanian refugees from neighbouring Kosovo in 1999 threatened to destabilise the republic.
A brief civil war in March 2001 involving Albanian rebels in the west of the country ended with the intervention of a small NATO ceasefire monitoring force and government undertakings to concede greater rights to the Albanian minority.
From the CIA World Factbook 2000 / 2001. Some Wikification.
- History of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
- Geography of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
- Demographics of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
- Politics of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
- Economy of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
- Communications in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
- Transportation in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
- Military of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
- Foreign relations of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia