North Macedonia
Welcome to North Macedonia, officially the Republic of North Macedonia. It's a landlocked country in Southeast Europe, nestled in the northern third of the larger geographical region of Macedonia.
Geography:
North Macedonia shares borders with Greece to the south, Albania to the west, Bulgaria to the east, Kosovo to the northwest, and Serbia to the north. The country is geographically defined by the central Vardar River valley, framed by the Šar and Osogovo mountain ranges. You'll find three large lakes on the southern borders: Lake Ohrid, Lake Prespa, and Dojran Lake. Lake Ohrid is considered one of the oldest lakes and biotopes in the world. The terrain is mostly rugged, and the country is seismically active; the capital, Skopje, was heavily damaged by an earthquake in 1963. The Vardar River basin is the largest, covering most of the country, and its valley is crucial for the economy and transport. North Macedonia enjoys four distinct seasons, with warm, dry summers and moderately cold, snowy winters.
History:
The region's history began with the kingdom of Paeonia, later becoming part of the Kingdom of Macedonia in the 4th century BC. The Roman Republic conquered the area in the 2nd century BC, incorporating it into the province of Macedonia. It remained part of the Byzantine Empire but faced Slavic raids and settlements from the 6th century onwards. For centuries, the area was contested by Bulgarian, Byzantine, and Serbian Empires before becoming part of the Ottoman Empire from the mid-14th to the early 20th century. Following the Balkan Wars of 1912 and 1913, the modern territory came under Serbian rule.
During the First World War, Bulgaria ruled the territory. After the war, it returned to Serbian rule as part of the newly formed Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes. In World War II, Bulgaria again controlled the area. In 1945, it was established as a constituent state of communist Yugoslavia, remaining so until its peaceful secession in 1991. The country joined the United Nations in 1993 under the provisional name "the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" (FYROM) due to a naming dispute with Greece. This dispute was resolved in 2018 with the Prespa Agreement, and the country officially renamed itself the Republic of North Macedonia in early 2019.
Politics and International Relations:
North Macedonia is a parliamentary democracy with a prime minister holding the real power, while the president's role is mostly ceremonial. The Assembly has 120 members elected every four years. The main political division is between parties representing the ethnic Macedonian majority and the Albanian minority. North Macedonia is a member of NATO, the Council of Europe, the World Bank, OSCE, CEFTA, BSEC, and the WTO. Since 2005, it has been a candidate for joining the European Union. However, progress has been hindered by disputes, including one with Bulgaria. The country officially joined NATO in March 2020.
Economy:
North Macedonia is an upper-middle-income developing country, having undergone significant economic reform since independence. It has an open economy, with trade accounting for a large part of its GDP. Key sectors include manufacturing and trade. The country has sought foreign investment and focused on developing small and medium-sized enterprises. Greece is a significant business partner. Tourism also plays a notable role in the economy.
Culture and People:
The majority of the 1.83 million residents are ethnic Macedonians, a South Slavic people. Albanians form a significant minority, around 25%, followed by Turks, Roma, Serbs, Bosniaks, and others. The official language is Macedonian, a South Slavic language, with Albanian being co-official at a state level since 2019. The most practiced religion is Eastern Orthodox Christianity, with a significant Muslim population as well. North Macedonia has a rich cultural heritage in art, architecture, poetry, and music. Important cultural events include the Ohrid Summer Festival and the Struga Poetry Evenings. Macedonian cuisine reflects Mediterranean and Middle Eastern influences, with tavče gravče considered a national dish. Football, handball, and basketball are popular sports.
Welcome to North Macedonia, officially the Republic of North Macedonia. It's a landlocked country in Southeast Europe, nestled in the northern third of the larger geographical region of Macedonia.
Geography:
North Macedonia shares borders with Greece to the south, Albania to the west, Bulgaria to the east, Kosovo to the northwest, and Serbia to the north. The country is geographically defined by the central Vardar River valley, framed by the Šar and Osogovo mountain ranges. You'll find three large lakes on the southern borders: Lake Ohrid, Lake Prespa, and Dojran Lake. Lake Ohrid is considered one of the oldest lakes and biotopes in the world. The terrain is mostly rugged, and the country is seismically active; the capital, Skopje, was heavily damaged by an earthquake in 1963. The Vardar River basin is the largest, covering most of the country, and its valley is crucial for the economy and transport. North Macedonia enjoys four distinct seasons, with warm, dry summers and moderately cold, snowy winters.
History:
The region's history began with the kingdom of Paeonia, later becoming part of the Kingdom of Macedonia in the 4th century BC. The Roman Republic conquered the area in the 2nd century BC, incorporating it into the province of Macedonia. It remained part of the Byzantine Empire but faced Slavic raids and settlements from the 6th century onwards. For centuries, the area was contested by Bulgarian, Byzantine, and Serbian Empires before becoming part of the Ottoman Empire from the mid-14th to the early 20th century. Following the Balkan Wars of 1912 and 1913, the modern territory came under Serbian rule.
During the First World War, Bulgaria ruled the territory. After the war, it returned to Serbian rule as part of the newly formed Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes. In World War II, Bulgaria again controlled the area. In 1945, it was established as a constituent state of communist Yugoslavia, remaining so until its peaceful secession in 1991. The country joined the United Nations in 1993 under the provisional name "the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" (FYROM) due to a naming dispute with Greece. This dispute was resolved in 2018 with the Prespa Agreement, and the country officially renamed itself the Republic of North Macedonia in early 2019.
Politics and International Relations:
North Macedonia is a parliamentary democracy with a prime minister holding the real power, while the president's role is mostly ceremonial. The Assembly has 120 members elected every four years. The main political division is between parties representing the ethnic Macedonian majority and the Albanian minority. North Macedonia is a member of NATO, the Council of Europe, the World Bank, OSCE, CEFTA, BSEC, and the WTO. Since 2005, it has been a candidate for joining the European Union. However, progress has been hindered by disputes, including one with Bulgaria. The country officially joined NATO in March 2020.
Economy:
North Macedonia is an upper-middle-income developing country, having undergone significant economic reform since independence. It has an open economy, with trade accounting for a large part of its GDP. Key sectors include manufacturing and trade. The country has sought foreign investment and focused on developing small and medium-sized enterprises. Greece is a significant business partner. Tourism also plays a notable role in the economy.
Culture and People:
The majority of the 1.83 million residents are ethnic Macedonians, a South Slavic people. Albanians form a significant minority, around 25%, followed by Turks, Roma, Serbs, Bosniaks, and others. The official language is Macedonian, a South Slavic language, with Albanian being co-official at a state level since 2019. The most practiced religion is Eastern Orthodox Christianity, with a significant Muslim population as well. North Macedonia has a rich cultural heritage in art, architecture, poetry, and music. Important cultural events include the Ohrid Summer Festival and the Struga Poetry Evenings. Macedonian cuisine reflects Mediterranean and Middle Eastern influences, with tavče gravče considered a national dish. Football, handball, and basketball are popular sports.
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