MACEDONIA. Republic of Macedonia
A country in southeastern Europe in the center of the Balkan Peninsula. Area - 25,713 km². Capital - Skopje (approx. 500 thousand), major cities: Bitola, Prilep, Kumanovo, Ohrid. The main administrative-territorial unit is the municipality (a total of 84), headed by a mayor. Population - 2.023 million (2002 census), of which Macedonians - 64.18%, Albanians - 25.17%, Turks - 3.85%, Roma - 2.66%, Serbs - 1.78%. A significant number of Macedonians live abroad: 150 thousand - in the USA, 120 thousand - in Canada, 150 thousand - in Australia, about 150 thousand - in the diaspora in Europe (according to estimates from 1995 - 2.2 million).
The official language is Macedonian (alphabet - Cyrillic). Religion: the majority of believers are Orthodox Christians, Islam and Catholicism are also practiced. The currency is the denar.
Diplomatic relations with the Russian Federation were established on November 31, 1994. Russia recognized the Macedonian state under its constitutional name "Republic of Macedonia" on August 4, 1992.
National holiday - August 2 - Republic Day.
According to the constitution, the head of state is the president of the republic, elected by universal direct secret ballot for a term of 5 years, but not more than 2 consecutive terms. The president represents the country in international relations, is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, and heads the Security Council. On April 28, 2004, Branko Crvenkovski (SDSM) was elected president.
The highest legislative body of state power is the unicameral Assembly (parliament) of the Republic of Macedonia, elected for 4 years in general elections by direct secret ballot (the current composition was elected on September 15, 2002). The parliament consists of 120 deputies. The Speaker of the Assembly since November 2003 is Ljupčo Jordanovski (SDSM).
The government of the Republic of Macedonia consists of the chairman, 4 vice-prime ministers, 14 ministers, and their deputies. The current composition of the government was formed in December 2004. The chairman of the government is Vlado Bučkovski (SDSM).
Political parties and socio-political organizations operate based on the Law on Political Parties, adopted in 1994. Currently, more than 40 political parties are registered. The largest of them are: the Social Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM), the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization - Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity (VMRO-DPMNE), the Democratic Union for Integration (DUI), the Party for Democratic Prosperity (PDP), the National Democratic Party (NDP), the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), the Liberal Party (LP), the Socialist Party of Macedonia (SPM), the Democratic Party of Albanians (DPA), and the True Macedonian Reformist Choice.
Slavs settled the present territory of Macedonia in the 6th-8th centuries AD. In the 14th century, Macedonia fell under the rule of the Ottoman Empire as a result of the Turkish invasion, where it remained until the early 20th century. According to the San Stefano Treaty, Macedonia was to enter the vassal Bulgarian principality from Turkey in 1878, but according to the Berlin Treaty, signed in 1878, it remained part of Turkey as one of its provinces. As a result of Turkey's defeat in the First Balkan War of 1912, Macedonia was liberated from Ottoman rule. A period of division of Macedonia among the Balkan states began. After the Second Balkan War of 1913, the western and central parts (Vardar Macedonia) went to Serbia, the southern part (Aegean Macedonia) to Greece, and the northeastern region (Pirin region) to Bulgaria. In 1918, Vardar Macedonia became part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes (from 1929 - the Kingdom of Yugoslavia). In 1941, as a result of the fascist occupation of Yugoslavia, most of Vardar Macedonia was captured by Bulgarian troops, the rest by Italian forces. After the end of the National Liberation War of 1941-45 in Yugoslavia, Macedonia became part of the Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia (later the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia) as one of its 6 republics. In November 1990, the first multi-party elections were held there.
On January 25, 1991, the Assembly (parliament) of the Republic adopted the Declaration of Sovereignty of the Republic of Macedonia.
On September 8, 1991, a referendum was held on the issue of sovereignty and independence of Macedonia. Based on its results, the Assembly declared the sovereignty and independence of Macedonia, solidifying the statehood of the country by adopting the constitution on November 17, 1991.
In April 1993, it was admitted to the UN (under the temporary name "Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia"). Since 1995, it has been a member of the Council of Europe and the OSCE, and a participant in NATO's "Partnership for Peace" program. In April 2001, Macedonia was the first country in the region to sign the Stabilization and Association Agreement with the European Union.
As a result of escalating interethnic tensions and the armed conflict that arose on this basis, on August 13, 2001, leaders of the major Macedonian parties, with the assistance of international mediators (EU, USA, NATO, OSCE), signed the Framework (Ohrid) Agreement aimed at stabilizing the situation in the republic. In accordance with the agreement, which provides for the expansion of rights for the Albanian minority, a number of amendments were made to the country's constitution, early parliamentary elections were held (September 15, 2002), and a population census was conducted (November 2002). The final stage of the process of implementing the agreement was the local self-government elections held on March 13 and 27, 2005, according to a new scheme of administrative-territorial division of the country.
Since September 2001, an international security presence under NATO command (operations "Amber Fox," "Allied Harmony") has been stationed in Macedonia. On March 31, 2003, it was replaced by European rapid reaction forces (operation "Concord"). On October 15, 2003, foreign military presence was withdrawn from Macedonia. In its place, a civilian-police mission of the European Union (operation "Proxima") was established, with a strength of up to 200 personnel.
Macedonia has some reserves of mineral resources (copper, lead-zinc, iron, and nickel ores). The country produces high-quality tobacco; fruits and vegetables are grown, and winemaking and sheep farming are developed. Tourism is also growing. In recent years, the economy has seen an expansion of the private sector. Macedonia covers 58% of its economic needs with domestic energy resources, while the rest of the energy carriers are imported.
GDP growth in 2004, according to official data, was about 1%. The volume of industrial production decreased by 17.8% compared to the previous year. The unemployment rate was 37.7% of the working-age population. More than 30% of the population lives below the poverty line. Macedonia's external debt in 2004 amounted to $1.86 billion.
The largest newspapers: "Utrinski Vesnik," "Nova Makedonija," "Makedonija Denes," "Dnevnik," "Večer," "Vest." Leading Macedonian news agencies: MIA, Makfax, Makpress. Radio and television programs are broadcast in Macedonian, Albanian, Serbian, Turkish, and Romanian languages.